one o'clock
By this means , the time passed so pleasantly that Master Bob and Miss Nell were much surprised when Mrs Gilmour , who had meanwhile been busying herself about household matters , came to tell them , anon , that they must clear their things off the parlour-table on account of Sarah wanting to lay luncheon . `` Why , auntie , '' cried Bob , looking up from the basin in which he was busy washing the last lot of seaweed , `` we 've hardly begun yet ! '' `` You 've been a long time beginning then , sir , '' replied Mrs Gilmour . `` Do you know that it is past one o'clock ; so that you 've been more than three hours at your task ? See , too , my dears , the rain has cleared off , and it looks as if it were going to be fine for a bit . '' `` How nice , aunt Polly ! '' said Nellie , the neat-handed , carefully lifting up the album out of Sarah 's way so that she might spread the cloth .