three o'clock
`` The smallest , friskiest ones , I think , are young ladies , by the way they switched along behind the others and hung back kind of shy-like . '' `` Now , Hippy Wingate , do n't tell us such a romance as that , '' warned Grace , `` when you were so winded you could hardly look in front of you , much less behind you . '' At that moment there was another crash against the door while two gray paws and the tip of a pointed muzzle could be seen on one of the window sills . `` It 's almost three o'clock , '' said Tom Gray , looking at his watch . `` I think we 'll have to do something , or we shall be penned here all night . Now , what shall it be ? Suppose we have a friendly council and consider . ''