about three o'clock
You write to her every day , and then the postman will be a powerful rival to Mr. Coventry , perhaps a more powerful one than Mr. Coventry to you . '' Acting on this advice , Henry wrote every day to Grace Carden . She was not so constant in her replies ; but she did write to him now and then , and her letters breathed a gentle affection that allayed his jealousy , and made this period of separation the happiest six weeks he had ever known . As for Grace , about three o'clock she used to look out for the postman , and be uneasy and restless if he was late , and , when his knock came , her heart would bound , and she generally flew upstairs with the prize , to devour it in secret . She fed her heart full with these letters , and loved the writer better and better . For once the present suitor lost ground , and the absent suitor gained it . Mrs. Little divined as much from Grace 's letters and messages to herself ; and she said , with a smile , `` You see ` Les absents n'ont pas toujours tort . ' ''