Three o'clock
The spreading fig-trees , the bushes of bright red fuchsia , and the unpruned roses made a fertile wilderness of flowers and foliage . There was a terrace in front of the drawing-room windows , and from this a flight of crumbling moss-grown stone steps led down to the garden , which was on the slope of the hill , and lay considerably below the level of the house . While Vixen was perambulating the garden , a bell rang in a cupola on the roof ; and as this sounded like the summons to a meal , she felt that politeness , if not appetite , demanded her return to the house . `` Three o'clock , '' she said , looking at her watch . `` What a late hour for luncheon ! '' She made her way back to the small side-door at which she had entered with Captain Winstanley , and went into the parlour , where she found the Captain and his aunt . The table was laid , but they had not seated themselves .