about three o'clock
` Father , ' Billy cried in alarm , ` be quiet ; if I can st-stand it , you can . ' But Peterkin swore he would n't stand it . He 'd do something , he did n't know what ; and all the morning he went about the house like a madman , swearing at his wife , because she was n't _ up to snuff _ , and could n't hoe her own with the ` ristocrats ; swearing at Billy because he was a fool , and so small that 't was no wonder a bean-pole like Jerrie would n't look at him , and swearing at Ann Eliza because her hair was so red , and because she had sprained her ankle for the sake of having Tom Tracy bring her home , hoping he would keep calling to see her , and thus give her a chance to rope him in , which she never could as long as the world stood . ` Neither you nor Bill will ever marry , with all your money , unless you take up with a cobbler , and he with a washwoman , ' was his farewell remark , as he finally left the house about three o'clock and started for the village , where he had some of his own witnesses to see before taking the train for Springfield at five . His wife had ventured to suggest that he go in a carriage , as it was so warm , but he had answered , savagely : ` Go to thunder with your carriage and coat-of-arms ! What good have they ever done us only to make folks laugh at us for a pack of fools ? Nothing under heaven gives us a h ` ist , and I 'm just goin ' to quit the folderol and pad it on foot , as I used to when I was cap'n of the ` Liza Ann -- durn it ! '