half past three
`` Father , you keep an eye on Connie . There 's something in there that we are n't on to yet . '' And with this cryptic remark , Carol turned her attention to a small jar of cold cream the druggist had given her to sample . It was half past three on a delightful summer afternoon . The twins stood at the gate with two hatless youths , performing what seemed to be the serious operation of separating their various tennis racquets and shoes from the conglomerate jumble . Finally , laughing and calling back over their shoulders , they sauntered lazily up the walk toward the house , and the young men set off in the direction from which they had come . They were hardly out of hearing distance when the front door opened , and Aunt Grace beckoned hurriedly to the twins .