noon
There may have been some truth in the assertion of his detractors that Hilary Vance 's drawing was facile and too far on the side of mere prettiness ; but no one in the world could deny that he made a splendid elephant : his trumpeting was especially true to life . Ten days passed pleasantly at his studio ; and both Pollyooly and the Lump were the better for the change . Three times she went to the King 's Bench Walk and cleaned the rooms against the Honourable John Ruffin 's return ; four times she went to the dancing class in Soho , where she was training for a career on the stage . On the evening of the tenth day came a letter to say that he would be back at noon on the morrow . After breakfast , therefore , Hilary Vance despatched the two children back to the King 's Bench Walk in a taxicab , the Lump hugging a large box of chocolate creams , Pollyooly , in no less joy , clasping firmly her shabby little purse which contained , beyond the silver she carried to meet any natural expense , a golden sovereign , the artist 's parting gift . Her sky was now serene ; but she was still mindful of the days when the jaws of the workhouse had yawned for her and the Lump , and she lost no chance of adding to her hoard in the Post Office Savings Bank . Immediately on her arrival at the Temple she went to the post office and added the sovereign to it .