one o'clock
Why , you 've left half your victuals on the platter . I 'll feed the cat with them . ' Chatterton now looked up from his book , and said , -- ` You 're welcome , or rather the cat is welcome . ' He had an hour allowed for his dinner , and was not due at the office again till one o'clock , when Mr Lambert left it to return to Dowry Square for his midday repast at half-past one . Chatterton rose as he spoke , and sat down on a stool by the fire , his book still in his hand . But he was not reading now , he was watching the lithe , graceful figure at the side-table . Bryda had rolled up her short sleeves above the elbow , and her pretty rounded arms were seen to advantage as she mixed the flour and kneaded it , and then passed the rolling pin lightly over it .