three o'clock
She wondered again how they heard about her coming ; the children appeared to take her for granted , but , of course , _ they _ knew she was a Time-traveller ! As the girls sat by their elders , idly playing with the silvery sand and chatting to each other , a large steamship came in view , coming from the north and heading south-west . They all stopped working and talking as they watched her steaming along , a trail of smoke blowing behind her , smudging the blue sky with clouds , black at first and gradually fading to grey . `` That 's the English mail , '' Papa said at last ; `` she was due to leave the Semaphore at three o'clock to-day . '' They were silent again ; the great ship drew nearer -- now she was almost opposite . `` Oh -- John -- _ Home ! '' _ Mamma said .