six o'clock
`` Why , Dotty Rose ! Do you mean to say you suspect anybody ? '' `` I do n't say that ; and I wo n't mention any name , even to you , but just you wait and see . They 'll announce the prize winner at six o'clock and it 's after five now . '' So Dolly deferred to Dotty 's wishes in the matter , and as there was much going on and plenty of diverting incidents , the hour slipped away and soon a whisper was passed around that the committee had made their choice . Mrs. Van Zandt , the aristocratic and somewhat eccentric old lady who had offered the prize , came over to the cake table and smiled as she began her speech . `` It has been rather difficult , '' she said ; `` to decide among the beautiful and delicious cakes selected by the committee , for my final test .