two o'clock
The one thing in which he himself felt that he was perhaps open to blame , was in his passion for the sports of the field . No one who had stood amongst the little group at the top of the long table in Hallgrove Manor-house on this snowy Christmas morning could have doubted that the heart of Lionel Dale was true to the very core . He was not alone amongst his poor parishioners . His guests had requested permission to see the two o'clock dinner-party in the refectory . Lydia affected to be especially anxious for this privilege . `` I long to see the dear things eating their Christmas plum-pudding , '' she said , with almost girlish enthusiasm . Mr. Dale 's parishioners did ample justice to the splendid Christmas fare provided for them .