twelve o’clock on Saturday
On which , before any one else could answer , the parrot , in a low and sententious tone , observed , `` Excellent . '' `` There , you have the consent of your first acquaintance , '' said Carey , while the bird , excited by one of those mysterious likings that her kind are apt to take , held her grey head to Mr. Ogilvie to be scratched , chuckling out , `` All Mother Carey 's chickens , '' and Janet exclaimed -- `` That 's an adoption . '' The troop were climbing the stairs to the third story , where Armine and Bobus were already within an octagon room , corresponding to the little hall below , and fitted with presses and shelves , belonging to the store-room of the former thrifty inhabitant ; but now divided between the six children , Mother Carey , as Babie explained , being `` Mine own , and helping me more specially . '' The table was likewise common to all ; but one of the laws of the place was that everything left there after twelve o'clock on Saturday was , as Babie 's little mouth rolled out the long words , `` confiscated by the inexorable Eumenides . '' `` And who are they ? '' asked Mr. Ogilvie , who was always much entertained by the simplicity with which the little maid uttered the syllables as if they were her native speech . `` Janet , and Nurse , and Emma , '' she said ; `` and they really are inex-o-rable .