six o'clock
`` Never mind , '' said Polly ; `` we 'll give him just meat and pudding . That 's enough for any man . '' They cheered up at that , and , with Alan 's help , they went to work to build a fire , making many discoveries during the operation about dampers and grates and their uses . But time , always unaccommodating , refused to wait for them , and six o'clock came far too soon , and brought the doctor in its train . Dr. Adams was rather perplexed when he went into the house and was met by no one at the door . Polly and her mother usually greeted him , but to-night the front of the house was deserted . `` The girls must be off somewhere , '' he said to himself .