four o'clock
in the morning
Directly opposite the Englishman , seated erect and prim on what had once been a hill of potatoes , her bonnet perched rakishly on one ear , and her grey toupée partially disarranged , hanging with its sustaining hairpins over her eyes , was Mrs. Mackintosh , firmly grasping in one hand her green silk parasol which she had never relinquished . As Banborough met her gaze , she demanded sternly : `` What next , young man , I should like to know ? '' `` Really , Mrs. Mackintosh , '' he replied , `` if for no other reason , you ought to be deeply indebted to me as a purveyor of new sensations . '' `` This is not a time for levity , sir , '' remarked that lady sternly , dropping her parasol and hastily restoring her toupée to its original position , `` and I consider it perfectly disgraceful that you should cause a lady of my character to be arrested in a potato-patch at four o'clock in the morning ! '' `` That 's just what I 've been endeavouring to prevent , '' he said . `` I believe this to be Canada . '' `` Then Canada 's a very poor sort of a country , '' she replied snappishly .