one o'clock before
The Japanese lanterns , instead of hanging on strings , were so grouped as to form a wonderfully lifelike pagoda in a corner of the hall , where -- if mischievously disposed -- they might burn at their ease without endangering life or property . The ironwork of the gas-brackets was tightly swathed with red paper , and the bare jets fitted with paper shades to match . From an artistic point of view Darsie strongly opposed the hanging of the timeworn mottoes , `` A Hearty Welcome to All , '' `` A Happy New Year , '' and the like , but the Squire 's daughters insisted that they liked to see them , and the farmers ' daughters confirming this theory , up they went , above the evergreen frieze , the white cotton letters standing out conspicuously from their turkey-red background . It was one o'clock before the work was finished , and a tired and distinctly grubby quartette started out on their three-mile return walk across the fields . Certainly country-bred folk were regardless of fatigue ! `` If I owned a motor I should _ use _ it ! '' Darsie said to herself with a distinct air of grievance as she climbed to her own room after lunch , and laid herself wearily on her couch , the while the Percival trio trotted gaily forth for `` just a round '' over their private golf-links .