five o'clock
as she fumbled wildly for the telephone . The shrill whistle that at noon had obtruded its discord into Nance Molloy 's thoughts had a very different effect on Dan Lewis , washing his hands under the hydrant in the factory yard . _ He _ had not forgotten that it was Saturday . Neither had Growler , who stood watching him with an oblique look in his old eye that said as plain as words that he knew what momentous business was brewing at five o'clock . It was not only Saturday for Dan , but the most important Saturday that ever figured on the calendar . In his heroic efforts to conform to Mrs. Purdy 's standard of perfection he had studied the advice to young men in the `` Sunday Echo . '' There he learned that no gentleman would think of mentioning love to a young lady until he was in a position to marry her .