one o'clock
The young Mortimers all sat together at the side table , and their papa , had not once occasion to call them out for being noisy , though they were merry and cheerful enough . It was certainly true , as Harriet had said , that her cousins would be noisy ; on this day , however , being dispersed amongst the party at the large table , they were very orderly and well-behaved ; and after dinner , when the young people had had taken as much fruit as was good for them , they retired into their play-room together : they sat round the blazing fire there provided for them , very comfortably and happily , and without one word of dissension till they were again called back for tea into the drawing room . The next day was the day appointed for the dinner of the tenantry , and busy indeed were the young Mortimers , in dressing up the Hall , and making it look smart and lively . A very large party assembled here to enjoy the squire 's hospitable table , at which he himself presided ; and the day after this , the labouring cottagers and their wives met in the same room at one o'clock , round a table well covered with meat pies , legs of mutton , roast beef , potatoes , and plum pudding . They brought with them those of their children , who were too young to be in the school : and , on this occasion , all the new round frocks , and cotton gowns were exhibited . Little Frederick led his nurse up to the head of the table , and was very attentive to her ; and whenever her plate was empty , he took care that it should not remain long so . This party went off as happily as the last ; and two days after was to take place the little dance , so anxiously looked forward to , not only by the Mortimers , but by all the young people in the neighbourhood .