one o'clock
`` What a sweet man , Columbus ! '' she murmured . `` I think we must cultivate him , do n't you ? '' She wondered why he was going back towards the church lane at that hour , for it was past one o'clock and time for her to be wending her own way back to the village . She gave him ample opportunity to clear the wood , however , before she moved . She was determined that she and Columbus would be more discreet next time . Mrs. Rickett 's midday meal was fixed for half-past-one .