three o'clock
She 'll outlive it ; I should n't . '' The silver penny changed hands at once . Avice had meanwhile been hanging up her hood and cloak , and she now proceeded to prepare a dish of eggs , foreseeing company to supper . Supper was exceedingly early to-day , as it was scarcely three o'clock ; but dinner had been equally so , for nobody wanted to be busy when the Queen came . A large dish of `` eggs and butter '' was speedily on the table -- the `` buttered eggs '' of the north of England , which are , I believe , identical with the `` scrambled eggs '' of the United States . The party sat down to supper , Father Thomas being served with a trencher to himself . `` And how dost thou get along wi ' thy Missis , my lass ? ''