seven
o'clock
Lady Staines followed the direction of his eyes ; then she said to Estelle , `` You 'd better go in now , my dear ; I 'll talk to you later . '' Sir Peter shouted in his stentorian voice an appeal to his sons to join him . Lady Staines , while she waited , took off her white kid gloves and her purple bonnet , and deposited them upon the balustrades . `` What are you up to , '' demanded Sir Peter when they came within earshot , `` sticking down there by the river with your heads glued together like a set of damned Guy Fawkeses -- instead of saying good-by to your mother 's guests -- who have n't had the sense to get under way before seven o'clock -- though I gave 'em a hint to be off an hour ago ? '' `` Helping villagers to climb greasy poles , and finishing a sack race , '' Charles explained . `` Lively time Winn 's been having down there -- I had no idea our second housemaid was so pretty . '' `` None of that !