two o’clock
That is to say , the meal was no longer what it had been in Mamma 's or our grandmother 's time , namely , a kind of rite which brought all the family together at a given hour and divided the day into two halves . We allowed ourselves to come in as late as the second course , to drink wine in tumblers -LRB- St. Jerome himself set us the example -RRB- , to roll about on our chairs , to depart without saying grace , and so on . In fact , luncheon had ceased to be a family ceremony . In the old days at Petrovskoe , every one had been used to wash and dress for the meal , and then to repair to the drawing-room as the appointed hour -LRB- two o'clock -RRB- drew near , and pass the time of waiting in lively conversation . Just as the clock in the servants ' hall was beginning to whirr before striking the hour , Foka would enter with noiseless footsteps , and , throwing his napkin over his arm and assuming a dignified , rather severe expression , would say in loud , measured tones : `` Luncheon is ready ! '' Thereupon , with pleased , cheerful faces , we would form a procession -- the elders going first and the juniors following , and , with much rustling of starched petticoats and subdued creaking of boots and shoes -- would proceed to the dining-room , where , still talking in undertones , the company would seat themselves in their accustomed places . Or , again , at Moscow , we would all of us be standing before the table ready-laid in the hall , talking quietly among ourselves as we waited for our grandmother , whom the butler , Gabriel , had gone to acquaint with the fact that luncheon was ready .