one o'clock
said Peter . Roberta made an effort , and answered : -- `` I did , I suppose , but -- '' `` Well , then , '' said Peter , triumphantly . But before he went to school he thumped his sister between the shoulders and told her to cheer up . The children came home to one o'clock dinner , but Mother was not there . And she was not there at tea-time . It was nearly seven before she came in , looking so ill and tired that the children felt they could not ask her any questions . She sank into an arm-chair .