a quarter past five
The exhausted ones gathered strength and now and then rambled about a little , wondering why the others did not return . They watched longingly the point of road where the party had disappeared , even Miss Lily peered vainly into the empty distance . Miss Castlevaine looked at her watch for the twentieth time . `` It is a quarter past five ! '' she frowned . `` Where can they be ! '' `` We may as well sit down while we wait , '' laughed Mrs. Albright .