about six
o'clock
There were some ripening now on the trees , long in shape , golden in color , and full of delicious juice . Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account , and pronounced them very good , and had thought that a basket of the fruit would delight Dan . She had spoken to her mother on the subject , and her mother , in the height of good-humor , had promised that the apples should be gathered , and the little girl and she would ride down a lovely country lane to Dan 's cottage . They were to start about six o'clock , would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees , and come back in the cool of the evening . The whole plan was delightful , and Sibyl had been thinking about it all day . Now her mother had gone off to town , and most clearly had forgotten her promise to the child . `` Well , Missy , '' said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the soil ; `` do n't stand just there , Missy , you 'll get the earth all over you . ''