one o'clock before
Let this unfortunate affair pass from your minds , and let me again urge upon you the claims of the Sunchild Evidence Society . '' The audience on hearing that they were to be told more about the Sunchild Evidence Society melted away even more rapidly than before , and the sermon fizzled out to an ignominious end quite unworthy of its occasion . About half-past twelve , the service ended , and Hanky went to the robing - room to take off his vestments . Yram , the Mayor , and Panky , waited for him at the door opposite to that through which my father had been taken ; while waiting , Yram scribbled off two notes in pencil , one to Dr. Downie , and another to Mrs. Humdrum , begging them to come to lunch at once -- for it would be one o'clock before they could reach the Mayor 's . She gave these notes to the Mayor , and bade him bring both the invited guests along with him . The Mayor left just as Hanky was coming towards her . `` This , Mayoress , '' he said with some asperity , `` is a very serious business .