about five
o'clock in the afternoon
The parting with Lady Holberton was melancholy ; she was much depressed , and the physicians had recommended the waters of Wiesbaden . Mr. T -- was also preparing for an excursion to Germany ; and he was suspected of vacillating in his Butlerite views , brought over by Lady Holberton 's tears and logic . Returning to London , some three months later , I found many of my former acquaintances were absent ; but Lady Holberton , Miss Rowley , and Mr. T -- were all in town again . The day after I arrived -- it was Tuesday the 20th of August -- as I was walking along Piccadilly , about five o'clock in the afternoon , my eye fell on the windows of Mr. Thorpe 's great establishment . I was thinking over his last catalogue of autographs , when I happened to observe a plain , modest-looking young girl casting a timid glance at the door . There was something anxious and hesitating in her manner , which attracted my attention . Accustomed , like most Americans , to assist a woman in any little difficulty , and with notions better suited perhaps to the meridian of Yankee-land than that of London , I asked if she were in any trouble .