a quarter past
twelve
It was a good-sized tart , and when she had crowned it with a wreath of laurel leaves she thought she had never seen anything so handsome and appetizing . Alas , however , for poor Polly , the making of this pie was her one and only triumph . The morning had gone very fast , while she was walking to the village securing her purchases , and coming home again . She was startled when she looked at the kitchen clock to find that it pointed to a quarter past twelve . At the same time she discovered that the kitchen fire was nearly out , and that the oven was cold . Father always liked the early dinner to be on the table sharp at one o'clock ; it would never , never do for Polly 's first dinner to be late . She must not wait any longer for that naughty Maggie ; she must put coals on the fire herself , and wash the potatoes , and set them on to boil .