three o'clock in the afternoon
He bought for his mother a set of colonial silver candlesticks . For Mary , he bought a comb of gold -- all gold , like her own lovely hair . The dark tortoise shell of the one she wore always seemed an incongruous note in her fair crown . But Edith was as yet unpresented , and it was on her account that Mr. Sedyard deserted his office and delighted his subordinates at three o'clock in the afternoon . Edith was much more difficult than the other two had been . She was strong-minded , much given to churchwork and committees . Neither the home , as represented by the candlesticks , nor self-adornment as typified by the golden comb could be expected to appeal to her communistic , altruistic nature .