about seven o'clock
Then later in the day a certain savory smell might have been perceived by any very suspicious person just along this special passage and up that dusty old ladder . For hot bread and hot pastry and hot cakes were being conveyed to the attic , and the sober twins themselves fetched the cream from the farm , and the ginger beer from the grocer 's . No one was about , however , to suspect , or to tell tales if they did suspect . Helen came home about seven o'clock , rather tired , and very much interested in her purchases , to find a cozy tea awaiting her , and Polly anxious to serve her . The twin girls were supposed to be learning their lessons in the school-room , Katie was nowhere to be seen , and Helen remarked casually that she supposed the young ones had gone to bed . `` Oh , yes , '' said Polly , in her quickest manner . She turned her back as she spoke , and the blush which mantled her brown face was partly hidden by her curly dark hair .