three o'clock
`` Stay with me now . I 'll be ready for you in half an hour . '' `` I can hae fifty fish ready for Mither in half an hour , and I be to go to her at once . I 'll be back , laddie , by three o'clock . '' `` I 'm just distracted with the delay , '' but he stopped speaking , for he saw that he was alone . So he took time thoroughly to enjoy his scone and tea , and then , not being quite insensible to Christine 's kindness , he washed the dishes and put them away . He had just finished this little duty , when there was a knock at the outside door .