two o'clock
On the summit appeared against the sky the outskirts of a sturdy forest , paradise of nuts and squirrels . The rough road ran between rude stone-fences and straggling apple-trees to the village , lying some two miles to the southeast . About two hundred yards beyond the Parsonage -- so Professor Valeyon 's house was called , he , in times past , having officiated as pastor of the village -- it made a sharp turn to the left around a spur of the hill , bringing into view the tall white steeple of the village meeting-house , relieved against the mountainous background beyond . They dined in the Parsonage at two o'clock . At about three the professor was wont to cross the entry to his study , take his pipe from its place on the high wooden mantel-piece , fill it from the brown earthen-ware tobacco-box on the table , and stepping through the window on to the balcony , takes his place in his chair . Here he would sit sometimes till sundown , composed in body and mind ; dreaming , perhaps , over the rough pathway of his earlier life , and facilitating the process by exhaling long wreaths of thinnest smoke-layers from his mouth , and ever and anon crossing and recrossing his legs . On the present afternoon it was really very hot .