the afternoons, about three o'clock
She loved her work , for she was working for those she loved . She could imagine no life happier than hers might have been . But she had sinned , and the Lord had punished her for sin , and she must bear her punishment uncomplainingly , giving Him thanks that He had imposed no heavier one upon her . Such reflection was the substance of Esther 's mind for three months after William 's departure ; and in the afternoons , about three o'clock , when her work paused , Esther 's thoughts would congregate and settle on the great misfortune of her life -- William 's desertion . It was one afternoon at the beginning of December ; Mrs. Latch had gone upstairs to lie down . Esther had drawn her chair towards the fire . A broken-down race-horse , his legs bandaged from his knees to his fetlocks , had passed up the yard ; he was going for walking exercise on the downs , and when the sound of his hoofs had died away Esther was quite alone .