about four o'clock
in the afternoon
The old farmer explained that Tom and Tania had gone out together . They would be back in a few minutes . To tell the truth , the man did expect them to appear at any time . He could not believe that Tania was really lost , although Tom had been searching for her since early morning and it was now about four o'clock in the afternoon . For two hours the houseboat party waited . The girls walked up and down the rickety farmhouse porch , clinging to Captain Jules . Mrs. Curtis and Miss Jenny Ann remained indoors .