six o’clock
`` They 're both sensible girls , and capable of fighting their own battles . Let 's have dinner . I 'm hungry as a bear . '' It was half-past six o'clock , and the usual hour for dinner . At 8.10 dinner was served . The intervening time was consumed by Jane and Ellen endeavoring to settle their differences by the silent , sniffy method -- that is , Jane would sniff , and Ellen would be silent ; and then Ellen would sniff , and Jane would be silent . As for Thaddeus and Bessie , they were amused rather than angry to have the dear little broiled chicken Bessie had provided served on the large beef-platter ; and when the pease came up in a cut-glass salad-dish , Thaddeus laughed outright , but Bessie 's eyes grew moist .