the hour of one
The sunlight was warm , the breeze soft and sweet , and every bit of snow had vanished . It was like springtime , and they played without ceasing until the hour for lunch . `` Well come over to the cottage together this afternoon , '' called Mollie , as Nancy hurried away towards the stone house . She knew that lunch was always served promptly as the hands upon the dining-room clock pointed to the hour of one . She was rather afraid of the burly butler , because he stood so very erect , and never , _ never _ smiled even when the jokes told at the table were very funny . But the maid 's eyes often twinkled , and Nancy hoped that it would be the maid who would serve her . She was surprised to find that lunching alone in the great dining-room was not very cheerful after all , and after a hasty meal , she slipped from her chair , refusing to taste any more of the dainties which the maid offered her .