three
o'clock
Even the old inkhorn and quill pens seemed to say to all who entered -- `` Tread with respect . This is classic ground . '' His predominating thought during this interval was , however , not of himself , but of Christine . She had promised to come to him at three o'clock . How would she come ? He was anxious about her first appearance . If he could in any way have reached her , he would have sent his positive command to wear her best kirk clothes , but at this great season neither chick nor child was to be seen or heard tell of , and he concluded finally to leave what he could not change or direct to those household influences which usually manage things fairly well .