six o'clock
He succeeded where others failed , because so few could help liking him ; and if he failed but seldom in anything he undertook , that was probably due in part to the fact that he never thought and never spoke of failure , preferring always as topics more cheerful matters . His wife had become a permanent invalid very shortly after their marriage , yet no person could possibly have made the mistake of thinking George Perkins 's marriage a failure . I doubt if a happier married pair could have been found in Australia . The meal we called tea -LRB- though we drank tea at every other meal -RRB- was partaken of by Mrs. Gabbitas and myself at half-past five , and by Mr. and Mrs. Perkins at six o'clock . I was given to understand at the outset that no work was expected of me after tea . Once or twice of a summer evening I went out into the garden to perform some trifling task I had overlooked , and upon being seen there by Mr. Perkins was saluted with some such remark as : ` Stealing time , Nickperry , stealing time ! You an ' me 'll fall out , my friend , if you ca n't manage to keep proper working hours .