three o'clock
The house , garden , and field were lost -- by a few hours -- and with them a home for herself and her lover . She would not think so meanly of Jasper as to suppose that he would adhere to the resolution declared in a moment of impatience ; but she trembled , nevertheless . Why could not her uncle have lived a couple of hours longer , since he had lived so long ? It was now past three o'clock ; at five the agent was to call , and , if all had gone well , by ten minutes past five the house and holding would have been securely hers for her own and Jasper 's lives , these being two of the three proposed to be added by paying the fine . How that wretched old Squire would rejoice at getting the little tenancy into his hands ! He did not really require it , but constitutionally hated these tiny copyholds and leaseholds and freeholds , which made islands of independence in the fair , smooth ocean of his estates . ` Then an idea struck into the head of Netty how to accomplish her object in spite of her uncle 's negligence .