four o'clock
And that 's exactly what they did . When Mr. Merrill heard that grandma wanted a ride on a big boat , the plans for the next day were as good as made . He thought the idea of going to town on the boat and then getting lunch and coming home was a fine one and he only made one change in the plan . `` Instead of going to a store , in the loop , let 's take one of the little launches that run from the Municipal pier to Lincoln Park and go up there for our lunch so grandma can see your favorite swans and perhaps , if we want to stay that long , see the seals get their four o'clock tea . '' But dear me , he little guessed what would happen as his nice-sounding plan worked out ! So the next morning , the Merrills all had a nice , leisurely , visity breakfast , then a walk through the park , and never did the park look lovelier than on the sunny summer morning , and then , boarding the boat that rocked at the pier on the big lake , they found comfortable seats on the shady side and prepared for a pleasant ride . Mary Jane chose to sit on the side nearest the pier because she loved to look down from the upper deck and watch the people boarding the boat .