half after five
`` I dreamed I took you for a medal , and I was right glad to have hold of you , '' said Howard , laughing ; `` but I shall not get my medal by dreaming about it . What o'clock is it ? I shall be ready in half a second . '' `` Ay , '' said Oliver , `` I wont tell you what o'clock it is till you 're dressed : make haste ; I have been up this half hour , and I 've got every thing ready , and I 've carried the little table , and all your books , and the pen and ink , and all the things , out to our seat ; and the sun shines upon it , and every thing looks cheerful , and you 'll have a full hour to work , for it 's only half after five . '' At the back of Mrs. Howard 's house there was a little garden ; at the end of the garden was a sort of root-house , which Oliver had cleaned out , and which he dignified by the title of _ the seat _ . There were some pots of geraniums and myrtles kept in it , with Mrs. Howard 's permission , by a gardener , who lived next door to her , and who frequently came to work in her garden . Oliver watered the geraniums , and picked off the dead leaves , whilst Howard was writing at the little table which had been prepared for him .