five o'clock
Downstairs in the long low dining-room , the table was prepared for tea . Daphne had decorated room and table with autumn leaves , and ferns , and flowers . In the centre stood a handsome birthday cake of Irene 's making and decorating , and surrounding it was dish after dish of tartlets , and cakes , and other things such as made the children gaze at the clock anxiously , fully assured that it had stopped . `` It _ must _ be five o'clock , or six , '' sighed Tom . `` I am sure it is three or four hours since dinner-time . '' `` I did n't eat any dinner , '' announced Daphne , `` when I saw what Irene had made , I thought I would wait . You see , it was a boiled mutton dinner , and I ca n't bear boiled mutton . ''