three o'clock
It was one of her mother 's bad days . Mrs. Fitzgerald was confined to her room , therefore Honor , released from Miss Bury 's authority , felt herself her own mistress . Finding Fergus , the groom , she ordered him to saddle Pixie , and make ready to accompany her on a ride . Fergus was devoted to `` Miss Honor '' , and would never have dreamt of disputing any command she might give him ; before three o'clock , therefore , her pony was at the door , and , dressed in her neat blue habit , she was ambling away in the direction of Ballycroghan . It was a leisurely progress , for poor Pixie 's gait was slow , in spite of his best endeavours , and Honor loved him too well to urge him hard . She was determined to call at the horse-dealer 's , and to ascertain if Firefly were still for sale . Perhaps , when her father returned home , she might catch him at a favourable moment , and be able to cajole him into changing his mind and buying the cob .