three o'clock
` No ; she left herself . She did not follow me out . She went on by mistake , but is sure to come back this afternoon , ' Arthur replied , rather excitedly , just as a sharp ring at the bell announced the arrival of Burchard and Belknap , the leading carpenters of the town , with whom he was closeted for the next two hours , and both of whom he finally hired in order to expedite the work he had in hand . At precisely three o'clock the carriage from Tracy Park drew up before the station , awaiting the arrival of the train and Gretchen , but though the former came , the latter did not , and John returned alone , mentally avowing to himself that he would not be sent on a fool 's errand a third time ; but five o'clock found him there again with the same result . Gretchen did not come , and Arthur 's face wore a sad , troubled expression , and looked pale and worn , notwithstanding the many times he bathed it in the coldest water and rubbed it with the coarsest towels . He had unpacked several of his trunks and boxes , and made friends of all she servants by the presents , curious and rare , which he gave them , while Dolly 's headache had been wholly cured at sight of the exquisite diamonds which her husband brought to her room and told her were hers , the gift of Arthur , who had bought them in Paris , and who begged her to accept them with his love . The box itself , which was of tortoise shell , lined with blue velvet , was a marvel of beauty , while the pin was a cluster of five diamonds with a larger one in the center , but the ear-rings were solitaires , large and brilliant , and Dolly 's delight knew no bounds as she took the dazzling stones in her hands and examined them carefully .