one o'clock
He had a terrible disposition , while Gwen had the temperament of an angel . So thought Mrs. Harcourt as she left the dining room , her own lunch untasted , to follow Gwen , and coax from her the reason for her distress . The cause of any disturbance that led Gwen to shed tears was attributed to the outrageous temper of the other child , or children , as the case happened to be , and Mrs. Harcourt never dreamed that sometimes Gwen showed a temper that was rather far from angelic . Max was not at lunch , but that caused no surprise , because he often was absent at one o'clock , returning at six for dinner with an appetite that seemed more befitting a brawny tramp than a boy who was always well fed . On this day , however , he did not appear at dinner , and when seven , and eight , chimed forth from the hall clock , and still no Max in sight , Mrs. Deland was frightened . `` Do keep up your courage , Mrs. Deland , '' said a man who happened to stand near her . `` Your small boy will come prancing in before long , just as he always does .