six o'clock
`` It 's very nice for Hilary , this going up to London ; but it does n't do _ us _ any good . When is something going to happen for _ us _ ? '' `` I suppose we shall have to wait for our turn , '' sighed Lettice dolefully ; but that very same evening an unexpected excitement took place in the quiet household , and though the Mouse 's prophecy was fulfilled , inasmuch as it could hardly be called an incident of a cheerful nature , it was yet fated to lead to great and far-reaching results . The old grandfather 's clock was just striking six o'clock when Raymond and Bob , the two public schoolboys , came home from their afternoon excursion . They walked slowly up the drive , supporting between them the figure of a young fellow a few years older than themselves , who hopped painfully on one foot , and was no sooner seated on the oak bench in the hall , than he rested his head against the rails , and went off into a dead faint . The boys shouted at the pitch of their voices , whereupon Mr Bertrand rushed out of his sanctum , followed by every other member of his household . `` Good gracious !