three
o'clock
Her husband was glad to be released from the sound of `` the prosy old doctor 's essay , '' and was in quite good humor with himself for his act of self-denial in going to church . So the drive home was quite a pleasant one , though considerably longer than the one to church . When they reached home a note was brought in containing an invitation from a fashionable friend of Mr. Allen 's to take a little drive out to the new park grounds that afternoon . The carriage would call at three o'clock . Clara was greatly shocked at such a disregard of the sanctity of God 's holy day , and her husband employed a great deal of skilful rhetoric and much more subtle sophistry before she could be brought even to entertain such a project . `` You know I went to church to please you this morning . I am sure you will be kind enough to oblige me by accepting my friend 's invitation .