about twelve o'clock
But the specimens were not to be touched till the afternoon , for Mr Inglis was going over to the town . But he promised that the microscope should be brought out in the evening , and then sent the boys into the breakfast parlour , where they found Mrs Inglis making the tea . Breakfast being finished , Mr Inglis started off through the miserable , wet , drenching morning , and the boys were left to amuse themselves as best they could , which they did by getting ready their fishing-tackle for the promised trip to Lord Copsedale 's lake , which had been almost forgotten , so many amusements had been awaiting them day after day ; but which it was now decided by Harry should take place on the following Tuesday morning . To the great delight of all , about twelve o'clock the clouds began to break , and the sun to peep out , so that by the time Mr Inglis returned it was quite a fine afternoon , and he promised that he would go with them in the evening to destroy the wasps ' nest , while the afternoon being so fine left them at liberty to have a run and amuse themselves with out-door sports , -- always remembering , that the microscope was to be brought out in the evening , the taking of the wasps ' nest being only looked upon as a small portion of what was to be done . Mr Inglis got very little assistance over the arrangement of his specimens , for the excitement of catching them being past , Harry and Philip cared very little for the more delicate operations of pinning out and arranging , which required great care and nicety -- the tender wings of a butterfly showing every rude touch and finger-mark in the despoiled feathers or plumes with which its pinions are adorned . Mr Inglis was sitting in his study very busily engaged in this manner , and surrounded with entomological pins , when he saw the boys dash by the window in company with Dick to hunt for water-rats by the river side . Dick had be willing enough to go , for weather seemed no object to him -- hail , rain , or sunshine , he was always ready for a hunt , race , or anything , and , by his actions , showed that he would far rather run after nothing at all than be tied-up by his kennel ; this tying up being a task not easy to perform unless he was tired out , for Dick used to be seized with deaf fits upon these occasions , and would scamper off in some other direction , and at last have to be hunted out and ignominiously dragged to his chain , most likely by one ear , as we have seen when he was out after the snakes ; for a lover of liberty was Dick , one who abhorred chains as fully as any negro dragged from the burning coast of Africa ; but the poor fellow was compelled to wear the chain for long hours every day , and therefore his reluctance to return to his collar when , once he was free of it .