"That's eight bells—twelve o'clock," said the pretty hostess, with a laugh. "That's a new marine clock Uncle Amos gave me for the Gem. It keeps time just as it is done on shipboard."
"And when it's eight o'clock it's twelve," murmured Grace. "Do you have to do subtraction and addition every time the clock strikes?"
"No, you see, eight bells is the highest number. It is eight bells at eight o'clock, at four o'clock and at twelve—either at night, or in the daytime."
"Oh, I'm sure I'll never learn that," sighed Amy.
"It is very simple," explained Betty. "Now, it is eight bells—twelve o'clock noon. At half-past twelve it will be one bell. Then half an hour later, it will be two bells—one o'clock. You see, every half hour is rung."
"Worse and worse!" protested Mollie. "What time is it at two o'clock?"
"Four bells," answered Betty, promptly.
"Why, I thought four bells was four o'clock," spoke Grace.
"No, eight bells is four o'clock in the afternoon, and also four o'clock in the morning. Then it starts over again with one bell, whicfi twould be half -past lour; two bells, five; three bells, half-past five, and"
