three o'clock
There were only two rooms at the top part of the tenement -- one inhabited by good Mrs Flanagan , the other by Pollie and her mother ; and though the apartments were small , and the narrow windows overlooked the chimney-pots and tiles , yet they felt it such an advantage to be up here , removed , as it were , from the noisy people who lived in the same dwelling ; each room , in fact , was let out to separate families , some of them very rough and boisterous . Pollie tapped at her mother 's door , and then peeped merrily in . There sat that good and gentle woman , busily working close by the narrow window , so as to get as much light as possible for her delicate needlework . The tea-things were already on the table , which was spread with a clean white cloth , and the kettle sang a cheery welcome to little Pollie ; for though it was only three o'clock , it was tea-time for them , since dinner was an almost unknown luxury to this poor mother and child . `` Here I am , mother dear ! '' she cried , putting in her bright face , which was as sunshine to the lonely widow 's heart . `` O Pollie , I am so glad you have come home ; I was getting so anxious and afraid , and the time seemed so long without you , my child . ''