ten o'clock sharp
`` Humph ! that makes the rubber , '' cried the Captain late one evening , some little time after the events recorded in the last chapter , when they were winding up the day with a game of whist , which had succeeded the nightly battle of cribbage wherewith Mrs Gilmour and the old sailor used to amuse their leisure before the advent of the barrister and Mrs Strong on the scene . `` What say all you good people to a trip to Southampton to-morrow ? There will be an excursion steamer running there in the morning , starting from the old pier at ten o'clock sharp , I think . '' `` All right ; now you 've beaten us , I suppose you want to appear generous , and divert our attention from our defeat , '' said Mrs Dugald Strong , with a fine touch of sarcasm , as the Captain chuckled over the odd trick , and collected the spoils of war , in the shape of sundry little fish - counters , which he and his partner , aunt Polly , had won , through the old sailor 's successful manipulation of the cards . `` I believe we 've seen all that is to be seen in the isle of Wight . '' `` Indade you have , '' corroborated Mrs Gilmour .