one o'clock
He could not but reflect sometimes , and then even _ his _ sunny brow was clouded , that he wanted a something which the children at the rectory possessed ; that he wanted a great reality , without which he could not be fully happy . He saw also the bright side of total abstinence when he spent a day with the rector 's family . At home there was always abundance of beer and wine upon the table , and he drank it , like others ; and not only drank it , but thirsted for it , and felt as if he could not do without it . It was not so when he dined at the rectory , at their simple one o'clock meal , for he enjoyed his food , and seemed scarcely to miss the stimulant . One day , when he was sitting at the rectory table , he said to Mr Oliphant , looking up with one of his bright smiles , -- `` I wish I was a total abstainer . '' `` Well , '' said Mr Oliphant in reply , with a smile , `` I wish you were ; but why do _ you _ wish it just now , my dear boy ? '' `` Oh , I 've been thinking a good deal about it lately .