five o'clock in the afternoon
I had had experience , in the shock of that very day , that I could , even thus soon , find comforting reconcilements to the change that had fallen on me . I renewed my resolutions and prayed to be strengthened in them , pouring out my heart for myself and for my unhappy mother and feeling that the darkness of the morning was passing away . It was not upon my sleep ; and when the next day 's light awoke me , it was gone . My dear girl was to arrive at five o'clock in the afternoon . How to help myself through the intermediate time better than by taking a long walk along the road by which she was to come , I did not know ; so Charley and I and Stubbs -- Stubbs saddled , for we never drove him after the one great occasion -- made a long expedition along that road and back . On our return , we held a great review of the house and garden and saw that everything was in its prettiest condition , and had the bird out ready as an important part of the establishment . There were more than two full hours yet to elapse before she could come , and in that interval , which seemed a long one , I must confess I was nervously anxious about my altered looks .