nine
o'clock
Whatever effect time and scenes were to have on our young friend Mabel , certainly her cousin 's arguments and declarations produced none at the present ; so we must close the chapter of the first day , and begin another . The evening of this first day at Oak Villa had been very pleasantly spent by Aunt Mary and her nieces at Mr. Maitland 's , where the young people engaged themselves on the lawn , while the elders talked over the various events of the very eventful times , without being able to come to any conclusion as to how they were to be mended . Mabel either really _ was _ in a very gracious humour this evening , or the fact of a young gentleman being of their party made her careful not to give way to temper ; though it must be confessed that Harry tried it two or three times . However , all went on smoothly enough , and at nine o'clock the friends separated . The gorgeous sunset gave token of a fine day on the morrow , when Clara anticipated the pleasure of finishing her labour of love , and taking a most acceptable present to her poor friends the Simmonses . The bell rang at the usual time in the morning , and after breakfast the work of the day before was resumed . ` Two hours , I think , will finish what you want to take with you to-day , ' said Aunt Mary , ` so you will have time to go before dinner .