half past seven
`` Well , now , it is long past seven o'clock and you must dress to go down to dessert . '' And all the time she was putting Halcyone into her too short white frock , and brushing her mane of hair , the child kept up a brisk conversation . Silent for hours at a time , when something suddenly interested her she could be loquacious enough . One candle had to be lit before her toilet was completed , and then at half past seven she stole down the stairs , full of shadows , and across the hall to the great dining-room , where the Misses La Sarthe dined in state at seven o'clock , off some thin soup and one other dish , so that at half past seven the cloth had been cleared away by old William -LRB- in a black evening coat now and rather a high stock -RRB- , and the shining mahogany table reflected the two candles in their superb old silver candlesticks . At this stage , as Halcyone entered the room , it was customary for William to place the dish of apples on the table in front of Miss La Sarthe , and the dish of almonds and raisins in front of Miss Roberta . The dessert did not vary much for months -- from October to late June it was the same ; and only on Sundays was the almond and raisin dish allowed to be partaken of , but an apple was divided into four quarters , after being carefully peeled by Miss La Sarthe , each evening , and Miss Roberta was given two quarters and Halcyone one , while the eldest lady nibbled at the remaining piece herself . In her day , children had always come down to dessert , and had had to be good and not greedy , or the fate of Miss Augusta Noble of that estimable book , `` The Fairchild Family , '' would certainly fall upon them .