one o'clock in the afternoon
`` It surely is wonderful ! '' `` Oh , Lucy , dear , I may convert you yet , '' Jessie was crying gleefully , when she was interrupted by another crowd of fellow-voyagers , who , for the time being at least , cut her triumph short . Later came the call to luncheon , and everybody hurried down to the dining-room , where the atmosphere of excitement and unrest prevailed to such a degree that people almost forgot to eat , or else bolted their meals in half the ordinary time , anxious not to miss a moment above decks . Then , toward one o'clock in the afternoon , Mrs. Payton advised the girls to get everything ready , and see that nothing was left in the stateroom . `` We will dock in a few minutes , '' she explained , `` and we do n't want to leave everything until the last instant . '' Down rushed the girls to the stateroom obediently , treading on each other 's heels and not even bothering to apologize , for what was so everyday a thing as politeness at such a time ? Jessie and Evelyn waited in undisguised impatience while Lucile fumblingly fitted the key into the lock with fingers that trembled rebelliously .