seven o'clock
Here was a flight in science and nautical language that poor Mulford could not have anticipated , even in the captain 's relict ! That Mrs. Budd should mistake `` setting the watch '' for `` setting our watches , '' was not so very violent a blunder that one ought to be much astonished at it in her ; but that she should expect to find a chronometer that was intended to keep the time of Greenwich , agreeing with a watch that was set for the time of New York , betrayed a degree of ignorance that the handsome mate was afraid Rose would resent on him , when the mistake was made to appear . As the widow held out her own watch for the comparison , however , he could not refuse to produce his own . By Mrs. Budd 's watch it was past seven o'clock , while by his own , or the Greenwich-set chronometer , it was a little past twelve . `` How very wrong your watch is , Mr. Mulford , '' cried the good lady , `` notwithstanding all you have said in its favour . It 's quite five hours too fast , I do declare ; and now , Rosy dear , you see the importance of setting watches on a ship 's board , as is done every evening , my departed husband has often told me . '' `` Harry 's must be what he calls a dog-watch , aunty , '' said Rose , laughing , though she scarce knew at what .