twelve o'clock
Decent and discreet , the two roofs caught the eye to the exclusion of all meaner dwellings , seeming to have joined in a conspiracy to keep them out of sight . The July sun had burned his face all the way from Oxford , yet pale was Shelton when he walked up the drive and rang the bell . `` Mrs. Dennant at home , Dobson ? '' he asked of the grave butler , who , old servant that he was , still wore coloured trousers -LRB- for it was not yet twelve o'clock , and he regarded coloured trousers up to noon as a sacred distinction between the footmen and himself -RRB- . `` Mrs. Dennant , '' replied this personage , raising his round and hairless face , while on his mouth appeared that apologetic pout which comes of living with good families -- `` Mrs. Dennant has gone into the village , sir ; but Miss Antonia is in the morning-room . '' Shelton crossed the panelled , low-roofed hall , through whose far side the lawn was visible , a vision of serenity . He mounted six wide , shallow steps , and stopped .