midday
When , however , this was done and the actinea put into their future home , the aquarium blossomed out into a garden of live flowers , whose tentacles of various colours resembled so many chrysanthemums , dahlias , and daisies , of the most gorgeous hues ever seen on Nature 's palette ! Of course , the actinea did not make themselves at home in their new lodgings and disclose their beauties all at once ; but , in a few days , none of them having been hurt by Bob 's knife , they seemed to have become acclimatised , putting out the petals of their flower-like bodies as freely as when in their native pools at Seaview . So , too , did a beautiful rose and white dianthus , which Dick had picked up adhering to an ugly old oyster-shell ; and , the even rarer anthea , whose long hanging filaments were never altogether withdrawn into its body when disturbed , as was the case with the other sea-anemones , and which were thus a constant source of alarm to Bob 's little crabs ; for , it was ever listlessly waving perilously near these nervous creatures , making them hurry out of their way in such frantic haste as their lateral conformation permitted . It was a long job arranging the aquarium , engrossing the attention of all engaged and taking up the entire morning ; aye , and all midday , too ! `` Good gracious me ! '' exclaimed Mrs Gilmour , coming into the room when they had just completed the task . `` What a long time you 've been at it , to be sure !