Wednesday
     at three o'clock
Laura took the card , looked at it intently till she was sure of the address , and then laid it down , with , `` No , he is no friend of ours . '' That afternoon , Laura wrote and dispatched the following note . It was in a round hand , unlike her flowing style , and it was directed to a number and street in Georgetown : -- `` A Lady at Senator Dilworthy 's would like to see Col. George Selby , on business connected with the Cotton Claims . Can he call Wednesday at three o'clock P. M. ? '' On Wednesday at 3 P. M , no one of the family was likely to be in the house except Laura . Col. Selby had just come to Washington , and taken lodgings in Georgetown . His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war .