about five o'clock
It was little more than a week after the return from his fruitful journey , that the day of his marriage with Penny having been fixed , it was agreed that Mrs. Palfrey should overcome her reluctance to move from home , and that she and her husband should bring their two daughters to inspect little Penny 's future abode and decide on the new arrangements to be made for the reception of the bride . Mr. Freely meant her to have a house so pretty and comfortable that she need not envy even a wool-factor 's wife . Of course , the upper room over the shop was to be the best sitting-room ; but also the parlour behind the shop was to be made a suitable bower for the lovely Penny , who would naturally wish to be near her husband , though Mr. Freely declared his resolution never to allow _ his _ wife to wait in the shop . The decisions about the parlour furniture were left till last , because the party was to take tea there ; and , about five o'clock , they were all seated there with the best muffins and buttered buns before them , little Penny blushing and smiling , with her `` crop '' in the best order , and a blue frock showing her little white shoulders , while her opinion was being always asked and never given . She secretly wished to have a particular sort of chimney ornaments , but she could not have brought herself to mention it . Seated by the side of her yellow and rather withered lover , who , though he had not reached his thirtieth year , had already crow 's - feet about his eyes , she was quite tremulous at the greatness of her lot in being married to a man who had travelled so much -- and before her sister Letty ! The handsome Letitia looked rather proud and contemptuous , thought her nature brother-in-law an odious person , and was vexed with her father and mother for letting Penny marry him .