eleven o'clock in the morning
`` No , my Ramuntcho . -- Oh , I am not angry , no -- '' Then he begins again , quite frantic , and in this languid and warm air , they exchange for the first time in their lives , the long kisses of lovers -- The next day , Sunday , they went together religiously to hear one of the masses of the clear morning , in order to return to Etchezar the same day , immediately after the grand ball-game . It was this return , much more than the game , that interested Gracieuse and Ramuntcho , for it was their hope that Pantchika and her mother would remain at Erribiague while they would go , pressed against each other , in the very small carriage of the Detcharry family , under the indulgent and slight watchfulness of Arrochkoa , five or six hours of travel , all three alone , on the spring roads , under the new foliage , with amusing halts in unknown villages -- At eleven o'clock in the morning , on that beautiful Sunday , the square was encumbered by mountaineers come from all the summits , from all the savage , surrounding hamlets . It was an international match , three players of France against three of Spain , and , in the crowd of lookers-on , the Spanish Basques were more numerous ; there were large sombreros , waistcoats and gaiters of the olden time . The judges of the two nations , designated by chance , saluted each other with a superannuated politeness , and the match began , in profound silence , under an oppressive sun which annoyed the players , in spite of their caps , pulled down over their eyes . Ramuntcho soon , and after him Arrochkoa , were acclaimed as victors .