two o'clock
He drew himself up out of his dreaming , and darted such a glance at the passers-by as produced another loud laugh , as they swept past . And he plucked the pony 's head from the turf with the same startled movement , and surprised the little animal into a canter of a dozen paces or so , enough , at least , he hoped , to show those insolent people that he could go , when he liked . But after that the pony took matters into his own hand . It was beginning to be afternoon , which to Geoff meant the decline of the day , after his two o'clock dinner . He had no dinner , poor child , and that afternoon languor which the strongest feel , the sense of falling off and running low , was deepened in him by unusual emptiness , and that consciousness of wrong which a child has who has missed a meal . Pony , after _ his _ dinner , had a more lively feeling than ever that the stable at home would be cool and comfortable , and , emboldened by so much salad , wanted to turn back and risk finding the way . He bolted twice , so that all Geoff 's horsemanship and all his strength were necessary to bring the little beast round .