About ten o'clock
Ruddiman was still watching her ; he waved his hand , and the young woman waved to him in reply . Left alone , the under-master took off his coat and put on an apron , then addressed himself to the task of washing up his breakfast things . Afterwards he put his bedroom in order . About ten o'clock the first customer came in , and , as luck had it , the day proved a busier one than usual . No less than four cyclists stopped to make a meal . Mr. Ruddiman was able to supply them with cold beef and ham ; moreover , he cooked eggs , he made tea -- and all this with a skill and expedition which could hardly have been expected of him . None the less did he think constantly of Miss Fouracres .