five minutes past seven
Will you mix up the cakes , Miss Polly , while I sees to the kidneys , and to the bacon and eggs , and the scrambled eggs , and the kippers . My word , but there 'll be a power more sent up than can be eaten . But whatever goes wrong we should have the cakes in the oven , Miss Polly . '' Polly did not altogether approve of Maggie 's tone , but time did press ; the kitchen clock already pointed to five minutes past seven ; it was much easier to write out a programme upstairs at one 's leisure in the pleasant morning-room than to carry it out in a hurry , in the hot kitchen , particularly when one 's own knowledge was entirely theoretical , not practical . Yes , the kitchen was very hot , and time never seemed to fly so fast . `` First of all , open the window , Maggie ; it is wrong to have rooms so hot as this , '' said the young housekeeper , putting on her most authoritative air . `` No , Miss , that I must n't , '' said Maggie , firmly .