two in the afternoon
The dove-colored merino went up and down the stairs , and the clean cap-border flew backward with every agitated movement . `` It was very strange that he did n't come ! Had n't the boat been in since ten o'clock in the morning ? so the truckman told her , and here were the hands at two in the afternoon ! There was no accounting for it after all that had passed between them ! '' However , it could n't be helped , and as the hour of three struck , and no Mr. Bond appeared , the despairing woman betook herself to her green moreen rocking-chair , and , what else could she do ? -- wept .