ten o'clock
Unfortunately , however , this was just what Miss Peggy _ did _ expect , and in proportion as the applause died away , so did her interest in her duties . It grew monotonous to weigh out everlasting stores : dinners and lunches seemed to come round with disgraceful rapidity , and the question of food absorbed an unreasonable amount of time out of one 's life . Cook looked askance when two courses were suddenly cut off the evening dinner , and cold meat ordered as the _ piece de resistance _ at lunch , hut there were worse things in store ! There came a morning when she waited for her young mistress 's appearance until ten o'clock came , and eleven , and twelve , and waited in vain , for Miss Peggy was far away , scouring the country on her bicycle , with never a thought for home duties until a spasm of hunger brought with it a pang of recollection . Horrors ! she had forgotten all about the morning 's orders and here it was close upon lunch-time , and her father doubtless already wending his way home , hungrily anticipating his tiffin . Surely , surely cook would rise to the occasion and arrange a menu on her own account !