three
o’clock
Never yet , after meeting him in society hundreds of times , had Mrs. Gallilee seen him talk to young ladies or even notice young ladies . Ovid 's alleged reason for objecting to Benjulia stood palpably revealed as a clumsy excuse . In the present posture of events , to arrive at that conclusion was enough for Mrs. Gallilee . Without stopping to pursue the idea , she rang the bell , and ordered her carriage to be ready that afternoon , at three o'clock . Doubtful , and more than doubtful , though it might be , the bare prospect of finding herself possessed , before the day was out , of a means of action capable of being used against Carmina , raised Mrs. Gallilee 's spirits . She was ready at last to attend to her correspondence . One of the letters was from her sister in Scotland .