nearly six
o'clock
Birdie was safe in his cage however , and the door of _ that _ was fortunately -- even when you hear what happened , children , you will agree with me that that part of it _ was _ fortunate -- quite fastened . Early next morning , one of the servants who slept in an attic above the ante-room , heard a noise below . She was a kind-hearted girl , and her first thought was of Miss Hoodie 's bird . She got up at once , and hurrying down-stairs -- it was not so very early after all , nearly six o'clock -- ran to the ante-room . As she opened the door , to her horror a great big strange cat jumped out of the window . `` Oh dear , oh dear , '' said Lucy , `` can he have got at birdie ? '' The cage was not to be seen -- but in another moment Lucy spied it on the floor , knocked down off the table by the cruel cat .