eleven o'clock
We saw his name over the door , for evidently he does n't entirely depend upon his guardianship of boats for a livelihood . He owns a shop , with indescribable things in the one cramped but shining window -- things which only those who go down to the sea in ships could possibly wish to have . For all we could tell he might be on board the boat , which floated a yard or two from shore , moored by ropes ; but it seemed more professional to seek Mr. Paasma under his own roof , and we did so , nearly falling over a stout child who was scrubbing the floor of the shop . `` What a queer time of day to be cleaning -- eleven o'clock , '' muttered Phil , having just saved herself from a tumble . I thought so too ; but then we 'd been in Holland only a few hours . We had n't yet realized the relative importance of certain affairs of life , according to a Dutchwoman 's point of view . We glared reproachfully at the stout child , as much as to say , `` Why _ do n't _ you finish your swabbing at a proper hour ? ''