twelve o'clock
What that might be must be investigated -LRB- and probably determined -RRB- later , but at present the business of Janet 's roses eclipsed every other interest . Miss Mapp 's shopping that morning was unusually prolonged , for it was important that every woman in Tilling should see the poppies on the corn-coloured ground , and know that she had worn that dress before Diva appeared in some mean adaptation of it . Though the total cost of her entire purchases hardly amounted to a shilling , she went in and out of an amazing number of shops , and made a prodigious series of inquiries into the price of commodities that ranged from motor-cars to sealing-wax , and often entered a shop twice because -LRB- wreathed in smiling apologies for her stupidity -RRB- she had forgotten what she was told the first time . By twelve o'clock she was satisfied that practically everybody , with one exception , had seen her , and that her costume had aroused a deep sense of jealousy and angry admiration . So cunning was the handiwork of herself , Withers and Mary that she felt fairly sure that no one had the slightest notion of how this decoration of poppies was accomplished , for Evie had run round her in small mouse-like circles , murmuring to herself : `` Very effective idea ; is it woven into the cloth , Elizabeth ? Dear me , I wonder where I could get some like it , '' and Mrs. Poppit had followed her all up the street , with eyes glued to the hem of her skirt , and a completely puzzled face : `` but then , '' so thought Elizabeth sweetly `` even members of the Order of the British Empire ca n't have everything their own way . '' As for the Major , he had simply come to a dead stop when he bounced out of his house as she passed , and said something very gallant and appropriate .