ten in the
morning
Amongst a patch of early sunflowers , Tod , in shirt and trousers , was surrounded by his dog and the three small Trysts , all apparently engaged in studying the biggest of the sunflowers , where a peacock-butterfly and a bee were feeding , one on a gold petal , the other on the black heart . Nedda went quickly up to them and asked : `` Has Derek come , Uncle Tod ? '' Tod raised his eyes . He did not seem in the least surprised to see her , as if his sky were in the habit of dropping his relatives at ten in the morning . `` Gone out again , '' he said . Nedda made a sign toward the children . `` Have you heard , Uncle Tod ? ''