three o'clock
`` I have not been round the island , '' Mr. Strafford answered . `` No one seems to have seen anything of a boat at all . However , they would need to be close in shore to be distinguishable through the drift . '' `` But it seems that there is very little chance of their being here by three o'clock . Would not it be better to decide that in any case the funeral will not be till to-morrow ? '' `` I think it would . I intend going by-and-by up the island , and will take care to arrange that first , and also about the reception of the boat when it does arrive . ''