three o'clock
In a couple of hours Sylvia was expected to arrive , and meanwhile Mary the cook had been seized with an irresistible craving to visit an invalid mother , and had taken herself off for the afternoon , leaving the arrangements for dinner in the care of the young mistress , and a still younger parlourmaid . Mary 's excuse for requesting leave of absence at so inconvenient a time was somewhat contradictory and involved . Her mother was failing fast , and as it was a custom in the family to die in December , it was a daughter 's duty to visit her as often as possible ; the shops were all dressed-up for Christmas , and it was hard that a body should not get a bit of pleasure sometimes , and the steak was stewed , and could be `` hotted up '' at a moment 's notice . The invalid mother sat up for a couple of hours in the afternoon only , so Mary must get to the house by three o'clock at the latest , and would it matter if she were after eleven in returning , as Christmas came but once a year ? Sweet Bridgie assented warmly to each proposition as it was put before her , urged a speedy departure , and was rather inclined to think it would be wise to stay at home for the night . She could never find it in her heart to deny a pleasure which it was in her power to grant , and was gaily confident of managing `` somehow '' to prepare a palatable meal for her guest , indeed , in the ardour of hospitality was rather pleased than otherwise to have a hand in the preparations . On the principle of `` first catch your hare , then cook it , '' she looked critically over the contents of the cupboards to find some ingredients which commended themselves to her limited knowledge of the culinary art .