Ten minutes past seven
Mrs. Challoner laid down her knitting and looked at them , and then she regarded her watch plaintively . `` Is it late , mother ? '' asked Nan , who never missed any of her mother 's movements . `` Ten minutes past seven ! No wonder the afternoon seemed long . '' `` No one found it long but Nan , '' observed Dulce , with an arch glance at her sister at which Nan slightly colored , but took no further notice . `` By the bye , '' she continued , as though struck by a sudden recollection , `` what can have become of Dick this afternoon ?