five o'clock
It was n't a very grand meal , but it was the happiest I 'd ever had . Captain March told me things about America , and aeroplanes , though very little about himself -- except that he was stationed at a beautiful place in Arizona , called Fort Alvarado , close to the springs of the same name , where girls came and had `` the time of their lives . '' Afterward we wandered about and made love to the Zoo animals , and at last saw them fed . When the lions and tigers had finished their glorious roaring , which seemed to bring the desert and the jungle near , it was almost five o'clock , so we had tea at the crescent-shaped tea house , in front of the Mappin Terraces . I lingered over my strawberries as long as I decently could , because , though I searched hard for it , there seemed to be no bored look on Captain March 's face . When I did reluctantly say , `` I suppose I 'd better go home ? '' he actually had the air of being sorry .