seven o'clock
`` I hope no one comes while we 're here , '' murmured Margery . `` How selfish ! '' laughed Hazel . By seven o'clock the delighted girls began to retrace their steps toward the houseboat . `` Now , let 's go down to the shore and take a look out over the lake , '' proposed Harriet , and this was done . There were several boats in sight , but at the distance these looked like mere specks . A large excursion steamer was passing in the middle of the lake .