four o'clock
`` Of course you will do ! '' she said gaily . `` But I must give him a few minutes ' grace . It has only just struck four o'clock . '' The Colonel looked around . He had come in five minutes before , hot and tired from a long ride of inspection , and his family , knowing his small peculiarities , had allowed him to get over his first exhaustion undisturbed . `` I should n't wait too long , little girl , '' he said , smiling kindly .