one o'clock
Some of the young men went into the billiard-room , and a few chess parties were formed . Some began to act charades for the edification of such among the elders as would choose to make an audience . A still larger party adjourned to the school-room to play at houses with their dolls , and two tables were soon spread with ground plans of three magnificent establishments for paper ladies and gentlemen , by three young ladies between the ages of twelve and eight , assisted by Mr. Frank Digby . At one o'clock they went to the hall , where the band was playing a merry air . Here a long table was spread , well covered with a nice plain dinner , and the school-children came two-and-two into the hall , just after the visitors had arrived . When all were seated , the girls at the upper , and the boys at the lower end , Mr. Mortimer came forward and said grace for them , and then the viands disappeared with great rapidity . Some of the castle children , headed by Louis , asked to be allowed to wait on them , and , the permission being given , they made themselves very busy , though it must be confessed that they were sometimes sadly in the servants ' way .