about four
o'clock
They had written a letter in New York and posted it the day they left , advising Janet and Christina of the happy home-coming ; but both men forgot , or else did not know , that the letter came on the very same ship with themselves , and might therefore or might not reach home before them . It depended entirely on the postal authority in Pittendurie . If she happened to be in a mood to sort the letters as soon as they arrived , and then if she happened to see any one passing who could carry a letter to Janet Binnie , the chances were that Janet would receive the intelligence of her son 's arrival in time to make some preparation for it . As it happened , these favourable circumstances occurred , and about four o'clock one afternoon , as Janet was returning up the cliff from Isobel Murray 's , she met little Tim Galloway with the letter in his hand . `` It is from America , '' said the laddie , `` and my mother told me to hurry myself with it . Maybe there is folk coming after it . '' `` I 'll give you a bawbee for the sense of your words , Tim , '' answered Janet ; and she hastened herself and flung the letter into Christina 's lap , saying : -- `` Open it , lassie , it will be full of good news .