one o’clock
There Constance became inattentive . Mr. Poulter had come up , and wanted to be useful , so she jumped up with a handful of nosegays to instruct him in laying them by each plate , leaving Dolores to herself , which she found dull . The other two , however , came back again , and the work continued , but the talk was entirely between the gentleman and lady , chiefly about music for the choral society , and the voices of the singers , about which Dolores neither knew nor cared . By one o'clock the long tables were a pretty sight , covered with piles of fruit and cakes , vases of flowers and little flags , establishments of teacups at intervals , and a bouquet and pretty card at every one of the plates . Then came early dinner at the house , and such rest as could be had after it , till the pony-chaise , waggonette , and Mrs. Blackburne 's carriage came to the door to convey to church all whom they could carry , the rest walking . The church was a sea of neat round hats , mostly black , with a considerable proportion of feathers , tufts , and flowers . On their dark dresses were pinned rosettes of different-coloured ribbon , to show to which parish they belonged .