two o'clock
Privately , she thought that Hal Ferris had received it by mistake from baby May , and had kept it , because he , too , knew Bill 's handwriting , and because , -- well , of course , it _ was _ foolish , she knew , -- but Hal had said he was jealous of any other man , and he might have suppressed or destroyed Bill 's card for that reason . She felt sure it was not a letter , but merely a Christmas card . However , she wanted it , but she wanted to ask Hal for it herself , instead of letting the Kenerleys ask him . * * * * * `` Dinner will be at two o'clock , '' Adèle made announcement . `` It 's considered the proper thing to eat in the middle of the day on a holiday , though why , I never could quite understand . '' `` Why , of course , the reason is , so the children can eat once in a while , '' suggested her brother . `` Baby ca n't come to the table .