four o'clock
Yes-s-s , he said four o'clock , did he not ? Fate again honored him , she would be at the Plaza then calling on a friend . Hayden had won in his dice-throwing and Fate took defeat handsomely , granting him his desires and throwing a favor or two for lagnappe . By four o'clock the wind had veered , the clouds no longer betokened rain , broken spars of sunshine dazzled over the gold of the Sherman statue , sparkled in the harness of prancing horses , and brightened the whiteness of the great hotel . It was early in March , which , by the way , had decided to enter like a meek little lamb this year instead of advancing with the mien of an angry and roaring lion . The air was cool and fresh and yet held all manner of soft , indescribable intimations of spring . The sky was a sheet of pale gold , the trees were a purple mist against it .