a few minutes after three o'clock
`` Oh , I would n't put it quite so strongly as that , '' laughed Tad . `` However , I guess he will get the cold all right . '' Tad dressed himself . After finishing , he thought to look at his watch and was disgusted to find it was only a few minutes after three o'clock . Ned declared that he was going to sleep again if Tad would keep the fat boy quiet . Butler promised to do his best and went out . He looked about for Stacy but failed to see him , so the freckle-faced boy sat down on the rock where Chunky had sat singing .