about one o'clock
After storing his mind with the financial news and social gossip of the morning paper , he had rejoined his friends . Sitting beside his niece , he participated , at intervals , in the conversation , his manner becoming more and more distant until , at last , it vanished altogether . To all who cared to see , it was plain that this stately and usually complacent gentleman was losing interest in external matters . He seemed annoyed when a steward , about one o'clock , appeared on deck and rang a bell , announcing dinner . At this summons Patrick Boyd took out his watch and was obviously astonished at the flight of time . `` I had forgotten my friend , '' he exclaimed , and he hurried below . At the dinner-table Elinor Marshall sat between her confessor and her uncle , the latter clinging bravely to his post through the soup and fish .