seven o'clock
said Anna-Rose with a dignity very creditable in one of her size , `` Ultimately to California , of course , to Uncle Arthur 's other friends . But now , this afternoon , we get back into a train and go to Clark , to Mr. Twist . He at least has a mother . '' And so it came about that just as the reunited Twists , mother , son and daughter , were sitting in the drawing-room , a little tired after a long afternoon of affection , waiting for seven o'clock to strike and , with the striking , Amanda the head maid to appear and announce supper , but waiting with lassitude , for they had not yet recovered from an elaborate welcoming dinner , the Twinklers , in the lovely twilight of a golden day , were hastening up the winding road from the station towards them . Silent , and a little exhausted , the unconscious Twists sat in their drawing-room , a place of marble and antimacassars , while these light figures , their shoes white with the dust of a country-side that had had no rain for weeks , sped every moment nearer . The road wound gently upwards through fields and woods , through quiet , delicious evening country , and there was one little star twinkling encouragingly at the twins from over where they supposed Clark would be . At the station there had been neither porter nor conveyance , nor indeed anybody or anything at all except themselves , their luggage , and a thin , kind man who represented authority .