about five o'clock
Nor can there be a doubt that he was pleased -- if , indeed , it might not be said that he was delighted ; for it can not be denied that the weight of the secret he had carried about had materially interfered with his connubial happiness ; and even the light of the honeymoon had been dashed with streaks of shade , thrown up from the cavern where the dread fact had lain concealed . On the day on which the additional children were expected , Mrs Crabbin was occupied in making preparations for their home-coming . A thousand little matters were gone about with maternal assiduity ; and , everything having been arranged , the couple and the three children sat down to tea , much in the same spirit they had done on the previous occasion . It was about five o'clock ; and the coach would arrive somewhere about that time . `` Here they come at last , '' said Caleb , as he listened to a tread of many steps on the stair , accompanied by the clear clack of the tongues of happy children . And , to be sure , in they came ; but there happened to be no fewer than five , accompanied by an old nurse ; and they had no sooner entered , than they ran forward to Mrs Crabbin , crying out `` Mamma ! mamma !