about two o'clock
The children , however , would not gratify her curiosity , and they started at once , so as to be back in time for dinner . It was all of three miles to Mr. Smith 's plantation , and the little girls were very tired long before they got there . Dumps , indeed , almost gave out , and once began to cry , and only stopped with Diddie 's reminding her of poor Uncle Pomp , and with Dilsey 's carrying her a little way . At last , about two o'clock , they reached Mr. Smith 's place . The hands had just gone out into the field after dinner , and of course their master , who was only a small planter and kept no overseer , was with them . The children found the doors all open , and went in . The house was a double log-cabin , with a hall between , and they entered the room on the right , which seemed to be the principal living-room .