five o'clock
`` Oh , bother , never mind how you go at first . That 'll come afterwards , '' said Maurice impatiently . But Dove thought the rules should be observed from the beginning , and gave Madeleine minute instructions how to place her feet . Towards five o'clock , the ice grew more crowded , and especially was this the case on Wednesdays and Saturdays , when the schools had half-holidays . On one of these latter days , Maurice did not find Madeleine at home ; and he had been on the ponds for nearly an hour , before he espied her on a bench beside the GARDEROBE , having her skates put on by a blue-smocked attendant . He waved his cap to her , and skated over . `` Why are you so late ? ''