three o'clock in the afternoon
* * * * * Horace Bradford turned his mind for the next few days to the many things about the place that needed his attention , resolving that he would let a week or so elapse before making any further attempt to see Sylvia , and in that time hoped to find Miss Lavinia at home , and from her possibly receive some light upon the gossip about Mr. Bell , as well as news of Sylvia herself . The sinking-fund for repairs and rebuilding the house that he and his mother had been accumulating ever since he had made his own way , he found to be in a healthy condition . A new hay barn and poultry house was to be put up at once ; and , as soon as practicable , his wish of many years , to restore the brick house , that had been marred by `` lean-tos '' in the wrong places , to its colonial simplicity , could be at least begun . Every day until two or three o'clock in the afternoon he gave to these affairs , and then he went to his books . But here again he met with a strange surprise , a new sensation , -- he could neither fix his mind upon writing , nor take in what he read ; the letters were as meaningless as fly specks on the pages . After a day or two he gave up the attempt . He had worked too closely during the last term , he thought ; his sight did not register on his brain , -- he had heard of such cases ; he would rest a week or so .