four o'clock
But Mr. Gammon went his way without so much as a glance at that dim figure . Two first-rate quarrels in one day put Polly Sparkes into high good humour . On leaving her aunt 's house in the afternoon she strolled into Battersea Park , and there treated herself to tea and cakes at a little round table in the open air . Mrs. Clover , though the quarrel was prolonged until four o'clock , had offered no refreshments , which seemed to Miss Sparkes a very gross instance of meanness and inhospitality . At a table near to her sat two girls , for some reason taking a holiday , who conversed in a way which proved them to be `` mantle hands , '' and Polly listened and smiled . Did she not well remember the day when the poverty of home sent her , a little girl , to be `` trotter '' in a workroom ? But she soon found her way out of that .