half past eleven
In a few minutes a brisk little fire was burning between the stones and Mrs. Merrill added the sticks the girls brought her till she had a nice bed of coals . `` Do let 's eat now , '' said Marcia , `` I 'm starved ! Then we can finish our picking afterwards . '' `` It 's only half past eleven , '' said Mrs. Merrill , laughingly . `` Who cares ? '' asked Ruth . `` That 's the fun of a picnic -- doing something different . ''