About four in the afternoon
And the nag trotted forward . I was anxious to try on my uncle 's three-cornered hat and scarlet waistcoat . `` If they fit me , '' I said , `` what is the use of buying ? '' About four in the afternoon the village of Lauterbach appeared at the end of the valley , and very proud I felt as I surveyed the tall and handsome house of the late Christian Hâas , my future abode , the centre of my property , real and speculative . I admired its situation by the long dusty road , its vast roof of grey shingle , the sheds and barns covering with their broad expanse the wagons , the carts , and the crops ; behind , the poultry-yard , then the little garden , the orchard , the vineyards up the hill , the green meadows farther off . I chuckled with delight over all these comforts and luxuries . As I went down the principal street the old women with nose and chin nearly meeting at the extremity , the bare-pated children with ragged hair , the men in their otter-skin caps , and silver-chained pipes in their mouths , all gaze upon me , and respectfully salute me -- `` Good day , Monsieur Caspar !