three o'clock
It was nice that the old woman had remained behind ; the sense of being quite alone , together with the sudden radiance , affected her with a desire to utter her happiness , and as she went on she sang in a sweet undertone , sang without words , pure music of her heart . In one of the two rooms above , Egremont happened to be taking certain measurements . Impatient to get his plans completed in detail , he had resolved to come for half an hour on this same day which had been appointed for Grail 's visit . Curious as he was to see the woman whom Grail was about to marry -- as yet he knew nothing more of her than her casually learnt name -- delicacy prevented him from using the opportunity this afternoon would give ; the two were to arrive at three o'clock , and long before that time he would have finished his measuring and be gone . And now he was making his last notes , when the sound of as sweet a voice as he had ever heard made him pause and listen . The singer was approaching ; her voice grew a little louder , though still in the undertone of one who sings but half consciously . He caught a light footstep , then the door was pushed open .