eight o'clock
How can you expect to be ready in time at this rate ? '' Clara mutters that `` Everything would be right enough if some folks would let her alone . '' Betty takes no notice of this just now , for Lucy appearing at this moment , she orders her off upstairs to wash and dress the younger children . By dint of a great deal of most energetic bustling on Betty 's part , and sulky help from Clara , the breakfast is actually ready by eight o'clock , and the boys and younger girls sent off to school in good time . Betty feels greatly elated . `` What a difference already ! '' she thinks .