one o'clock
`` Dinner will be ready in a few moments ; you had better come in and rest ; you must be very warm , '' said Aunt Faith from the shaded piazza . When the basket reached the air-shanty , the B. B. 's who were there to receive it , suddenly remembered that there was no floor , and Pete , although a dog of varied accomplishments , could hardly be expected to keep his footing on the branches . So there was nothing to be done but let him down again , which was accordingly effected with great care , Pete sitting composedly in the basket without moving a muscle , and jumping out when he reached the ground with conscious importance wagging in his tail . It was one o'clock , and the B. B. 's , after promising to return , adjourned for dinner ; Tom and Gem bathed their burning faces , and joined the family circle in the cool dining-room . `` You are as bad as a fire-ball , Tom , '' said Hugh , looking at his red face ; `` what have you been doing ? '' `` Splendid fun ! We 've been building a house in a tree . ''