three o’clock in the afternoon
The doctor reported that he had died of congestion of the lungs ; and the jury gave their verdict accordingly . '' `` Saturday . -- Marked forever in my calendar as the memorable day on which the judgment descended on me . Toward three o'clock in the afternoon -- in the broad sunlight , under the cloudless sky , with hundreds of innocent human creatures all around me -- I , Hester Dethridge , saw , for the first time , the Appearance which is appointed to haunt me for the rest of my life . `` I had had a terrible night . My mind felt much as it had felt on the evening when I had gone to the play . I went out to see what the air and the sunshine and the cool green of trees and grass would do for me .