six o'clock
I do n't see how he can be a friend of Philip . '' Harry had not much knowledge of the world , however , and would have been surprised to hear that Congreve was more dangerous and unscrupulous , and altogether bad , than Philip himself , in spite of the latter 's unamiable traits . After a while Harry made another attempt to loosen the cords ; but the second time proved as unsuccessful as the first . Considerable time had passed -- how much he did not know -- but , from the direction in which the sun glanced in the wood , he concluded that it was as late as six o'clock , and by this time he was almost always at home . Indeed , supper must now be ready , and his mother and their boarder , Uncle Obed , were probably ready to sit down to the table , and only waiting for him . It was certainly very tantalizing to be lying there helpless , knowing that his mother would soon be anxious and troubled about him . `` If I could only use my knife , '' thought Harry .