Three o'clock
The coloured crocuses peeped in from the window boxes outside , whilst the sparrows chirped and hopped about and hoped that the Writer had something pleasant to say about them . It was all very peaceful with the sunlight stealing into the room through the lattice panes , making little patterns upon the floor , the flickering red of the fire playing at hide and seek with the diamond patterns and never quite catching each other ; the yellow flowers nodding drowsily over the two childish heads that were now regarding the Writer most earnestly . The clock upon the mantelpiece chimed its mellow notes . Three o'clock it said . The afternoon had seemed almost dull up to that time , but now it all appeared to have changed in some curious way , ever since the Writer had made his appearance . `` I wonder , '' commenced Ridgwell , `` if by any chance you could have been sent to us ; you know we were faithfully promised that a Writer should come and see us and write down for us something we particularly want to remember . I wonder if you are the man , '' ended Ridgwell , quizzically .