about three in the morning
Dashwood had a wife , `` as tight a little craft , with as pretty a figurehead , '' he was wont to say , `` as you could find in a day 's walk through London . '' That was saying a good deal , but there was some truth in it . When Joe entered , intending to go to bed for the night , he found that Mary had just got up for the day . It was `` washing-day , '' or something of that sort , with Mary , which accounted for her getting up at about three in the morning . `` Hallo , lass , up already ! '' exclaimed the strapping fireman as he entered the room , which was a perfect marvel of tidiness , despite washing-day . `` Yes , Joe , there 's plenty to do , an ' little May do n't give me much time to do it , '' replied Mary , glancing at a crib where little May , their first-born , lay coiled up in sheets like a rosebud in snow .