four o'clock
`` But have you seen the seals ? '' asked Mr. Merrill who met them at the bird house . No , they had n't . `` It 's almost four o'clock , '' said Mr. Merrill , looking at his watch , `` and Mr. Holden said they ate at four and we should meet him there , so let 's hurry . '' It was a good thing they did hurry for other folks seemed to know , too , that the seals were fed at four . From all directions , folks could be seen walking toward the big enclosed pond where the seals were kept . But , by hurrying , they got there in time to stand close to the iron fence where they could see the antics of those queerest of animals , the seals .