about twelve o'clock
The party was reinforced at this point by the arrival of no less a person than the bridegroom , who , having risen from his slumbers in defiance of Robin 's injunctions , was now proceeding to infringe the laws of propriety by coming in search of his beloved four hours before he was entitled to do so . However , as Dilly rather pessimistically pointed out , it was probably the last time she would ever get a kind word out of him , so we gave them ten minutes together in the porch , while Robin interviewed vergers and Dolly intimidated perspiring persons with red carpets and evergreens . On our return home Dilly was snatched away by a cloud of attendant sprites , and we saw her no more until the time came for me to drive her to the church . We heard of her , though ; for as we sat at luncheon , plying the bridegroom -LRB- who had collapsed after the complete and inevitable fashion of his kind about twelve o'clock -RRB- with raw brandy , a message came down from the upper regions , to the effect that Miss Dilly would take a couple of veal cutlets and a glass of Burgundy , as she was n't going to be a pale bride if she could help it ! However , this half-hysterical gaiety came to an end in the face of reality , and in the carriage on the way to church poor Dilly wept unrestrainedly on my shoulder . I mopped her up to the best of my ability , but she was still sobbing when we reached the church door , to find the six bridesmaids , together with Phillis -LRB- inordinately proud of her office of train-bearer -RRB- , preening themselves in the porch . It had been arranged that the organ should break into `` The March of the Priests , '' from ` Athalie ' -- Dicky 's petition in favour of an ecclesiastical rendering of `` The Eton Boating Song '' had been thrown out with ignominy -- as the bridal procession entered the nave .