three o'clock
`` Sam told me that she distinctly said that the children were all out with Agnes ! She asked to speak to Bert , but Bert was watching a side-line , so Sam came -- '' Nancy 's gaze flashed to the clock that ticked placidly over the wide doorway . Three o'clock . And three o'clock said , as clearly as words `` Priscilla 's nap . '' Agnes had tucked her in her crib , with a `` cacker '' -- and had taken the other children for their promised walk with the new puppy . Pauline had rushed out of the house at the first alarm -- And Priscilla 's mother was here at the club . Nancy felt that she was going to get dizzy , she turned an ashen face to Mrs. Biggerstaff .