six o'clock
asked Dot . `` Next thing is to say ` good-afternoon ' and go home , '' laughed Mrs. Talmage , looking at her watch . `` Oh , dear , mother , it can not be dinner-time , '' said Ruth . `` It is almost six o'clock , and I have some matters to look after , dear , '' returned her mother . `` Well , we can invite our mothers to join us , anyway , ca n't we , Mrs. Talmage ? '' said May . `` Yes , but I would n't mention the fact that we feel that we must have them to enable us to get ahead of the Bobolinks , for your fathers will hear of it and plan some way to win out in spite of us , '' advised the astute Aunt Selina .