half
past six
It inaugurated a new era in Peter Ascott 's life . At first twice a week , and then every day , he sent up for `` Master Ascott '' to keep him company at dessert ; he then changed his dinner hour from half past six to five , because Elizabeth , with her stern sacrifice of every thing to the child 's good , had suggested to him , humbly but firmly , that late hours kept little Henry too long out of his bed . He gave up his bottle of port and his after-dinner sleep , and took to making water-lilies and caterpillars out of oranges and boats out of walnut shells , for his boy 's special edification . Sometimes when , at half past six , Elizabeth , punctual as clock-work , knocked at the dining room door , she heard father and son laughing together in a most jovial manner , though the decanters were in their places and the wine glasses untouched . And even after the child disappeared , the butler declared that master usually took quietly to his newspaper , or rang for his tea , or perhaps dozed harmlessly in his chair till bedtime . I do not allege that Peter Ascott was miraculously changed ; people do not change , especially at his age ; externally he was still the same pompous , overbearing , coarse man , with whom , no doubt , his son would have a tolerably sore bargain in years to come . But still the child had touched a soft corner in his heart , the one soft corner which in his youth had yielded to the beauty of Miss Selina Leaf ; and the old fellow was a better fellow than he had once been .