"Three o'clock," she said, looking at her watch. "What a late hour for luncheon!"
She made her way back to the small side-door at which she had entered with Captain Winstanley, and went into the parlour, where she found the Captain and his aunt. The table was laid, but they had not seated themselves.
"I hope I have not kept you waiting," Vixen said apologetically.
"My aunt has been waiting five minutes or so; but I'm sure she will forgive you, as you don't yet know the ways of the house," replied the Captain amiably.
"We have early habits at Les Tourelles, Miss Tempest," said the lady of the manor: "we breakfast at half-past seven and dine at three; that arrangement gives me a long morning for study. At six we drink tea, and, if you care for supper, it can be served for you on a tray at half-past nine. The house is shut, and all lamps put out, at ten."
"As regularly as on board ship," said the Captain. "I know the customs of the manor of old."
"You have never favoured me with a long visit, Conrad," remarked Miss Skipwith reproachfully.
"My life has been too busy for making long visits anywhere, my dear aunt."
They took their places at the small square table, and Miss Skipwith said grace. Antony Doddery was in attendance, clad in rusty black, and looking as like a butler as a man who cleaned windows, scrubbed floors, and hewed wood could be fairly expected to look. He removed the cover of a modest dish of fish with a grand air, and performed all the services of the table with as much dignity as if he had never been anything less than a butler. He poured out a glass of ale for the Captain and a glass of water for his mistress. Miss Skipwith seemed relieved when Violet said she preferred water to ale, and did not particularly care about wine.
"I used to drink wine at home very often, just because it was put in my glass, but I like water quite as well," said Vixen.