midday
The lesson of dependence , subserviency , Mary found harder in the learning ; did not study it ; therein reaped disaster . She arrived on a Tuesday . Upon that day of the following week Mrs. Eyton-Eyton paid to the nursery one of her rare visits , beautifully gowned , the hired victoria waiting to take her a round of calls . Lunch , delayed not to disturb the midday sleep of Masters Thomas and Richard Eyton-Eyton , was not cleared -- Master Thomas still struggling with a plate of sago pudding . Betwixt her children Mrs. Eyton-Eyton -- beautifully gowned , hired victoria in waiting -- took her seat ; Mary hovered behind -- and catastrophe swooped . Master Thomas grabbed for a glass of milk ; Mary strove to restrain him . There was an awkward struggle , her elbow -- or his -- caught the plate of pudding , tipped the sticky mass into the silken lap of Mrs. Eyton-Eyton , beautifully gowned , hired victoria in waiting .