quarter after six
Felice had told her about the battle royal with the sponge , but in the nursery -- well , the crossy-eyed nephew could n't work fast enough to suit Dulcie . She feverishly grabbed a brush herself and slashed about delightedly in kalsomine . Janet bossed the nephew and Dulcie , Dulcie bossed Janet and the nephew , the nephew nearly uncrossed his eyes from trying to follow all the instructions the two shouted at him . At quarter after six when Miss By-the-Day climbed slowly up the stairs , reaching out delightedly for Babiche , who had been sleeping in the top-most niche of the stair , two tired and aching women flung open the door of the nursery . They were smiling . Neither of them could think of a thing to say , but a curious mingling of odors told their story for them . The freshness of the clean , scarcely-dried , kalsomine , the faint tinge of smoke from the bit of fire , the delicious soapy cleanliness and a wholesome whiff of barley broth floated out into the dusty hallway to the little person on the stairs .