ten
o'clock
Then father said I was a disgrace to him , and I knew I was . On the fourth day some young fellows came to see me , and told me there was to be a picnic on Saturday , and I must get father 's horse and buggy and take one of the girls . In vain I pleaded that I did not know any of them well enough . They laughed at me , and said that Belle Marigold had consented to go with me ; that I knew her -- she had been in the store and bought some blue silk for twelve-and-a-half cents a yard ; and they rather thought she fancied me , she seemed so ready to accept my escort ; should they tell her I would call for her at ten o'clock , sharp , on Saturday morning ? There was no refusing under the circumstances , and I said `` yes '' with the same gaiety with which I would have signed my own death-warrant . Yet I wanted to go to the picnic , dreadfully ; and of all the young ladies in Babbletown I preferred Belle Marigold . She was the handsomest and most stylish girl in the county .