six o'clock
`` Eight-six-eleven-nine , '' cried Dorothy , quite forgetting the numbers she had been told . But nobody minded it , for just then Mr. Maynard said , `` And so I went home with my automobile . '' At this everybody turned up at once , and the dust cloud flew about , and the man who was run over groaned fearfully , and tires burst one after another , and the horn tooted , until Mr. Maynard was really obliged to cry for mercy , and the game was at an end . The afternoon , too , was nearly at an end , and so quickly had it flown that nobody could believe it was almost six o'clock ! But it was , and it was time for the picnic to break up , and for the little guests to go home . It had stopped raining , but was still dull and wet , so the raincoats were donned again , and , with their beautiful baskets of candies wrapped in protecting tissue papers , Gladys and Dorothy and Dick clambered into Mr. Maynard 's carriage and were driven to their homes . `` Good-bye ! ''