12:30
Diantha had her own lunch , and then sat at the receipt of custom during the lunch hour , making change and ordering fresh supplies as fast as needed . The two housemaids had a long day , but so arranged that it made but ten hours work , and they had much available time of their own . They had to be at work at 5:30 to set the table for six o'clock breakfast , and then they were at it steadily , with the dining rooms to `` do , '' and the lunch to get ready , until 11:30 , when they had an hour to eat and rest . From 12:30 to 4 o'clock they were busy with the lunch cups , the bed-rooms , and setting the table for dinner ; but after that they had four hours to themselves , until the nine o'clock supper was over , and once more they washed dishes for half an hour . The caffeteria used only cups and spoons ; the sandwiches and cakes were served on paper plates . In the hand-cart methods of small housekeeping it is impossible to exact the swift precision of such work , but not in the standardized tasks and regular hours of such an establishment as this . Diantha religiously kept her hour at noon , and tried to keep the three in the afternoon ; but the employer and manager can not take irresponsible rest as can the employee .