five o'clock
Once they were in the lane they slackened speed , all danger was then over , and they laughed consumedly at their escapes , and delighted in telling each other how So-and-so and his daughter had been successfully avoided . Willy always had his latch-key ready ; in a moment they were inside , and Frank would rush upstairs and throw himself into the armchair , crying : `` Here we are ! '' One day they were at the window , when , to their amazement , the Manor House carriage pulled up before the shop , and they had only just time to dodge behind the curtain and escape Sally 's eyes . Never before had the carriage arrived later than five o'clock , and now it was nearly six . What could be the meaning of this ? Begging of Frank not to move , Willy went out on the landing and listened to his sisters talking to his wife . The girls -- who were , of course , ignorant of their relationship to the shop-woman -- liked Mrs. Brookes very much , and were fond of a chat with her ; and , looking through the blinds , Frank saw the footman in all the splendour of six feet and grey livery carrying a small pot of flowers worth sixpence from the carriage to the shop .