about five o'clock
Buntingford would have thought it strange that they should do so , and never for one moment assumed it . After its languid morning , Beechmark revived with the afternoon . Its young men guests , whom the Dansworth rioters would probably have classed as parasites and idlers battening on the toil of the people , had in fact earned their holiday by a good many months of hard work , whether in the winding up of the war , or the re-starting of suspended businesses , or the renewed activities of the bar ; and they were taking it whole-heartedly . Golf , tennis , swimming , and sleep had filled the day , and it was a crowd in high spirits that gathered round Mrs. Friend for tea on the lawn , somewhere about five o'clock . Lucy , who had reached that stage of fatigue the night before when -- like Peter Dale , only for different reasons -- her bed became her worst enemy , had scarcely slept a wink , but was nevertheless presiding gaily over the tea-table . She looked particularly small and slight in a little dress of thin grey stuff that Helena had coaxed her to wear in lieu of her perennial black , but there was that expression in her pretty eyes as of a lifted burden , and a new friendship with life , which persons in Philip Buntingford 's neighbourhood , when they belonged to the race of the meek and gentle , were apt to put on . Peter Dale hung about her , distributing tea and cake , and obedient to all her wishes .