midday
He apologized for the absence of Mrs. Markland , a maternal aunt of Constance , who kept house for them . Quintin Manx fell upon the meats , and then upon the Minister . Dacier found himself happily surprised by the accession of an appetite . He mentioned it , to escape from the worrying of his host , as unusual with him at midday : and Miss Asper , supporting him in that effort , said benevolently : ` Gentlemen should eat ; they have so many fatigues and troubles . ' She herself did not like to be seen eating in public . Her lips opened to the morsels , as with a bird 's bill , though with none of the pecking eagerness we complacently observe in poultry . ` But now , I say , positively , how about that article ? '