the hour of three
The feeling which a week ago had been a vague and piquant aspiration , was to-day altogether too lively for the reasoning of this warm-hearted soldier to regulate . So he persevered in his intention to catch her alone , and at last , in spite of her manoeuvres to the contrary , he succeeded . The miller and Mrs. Garland had walked about fifty yards further on , and Anne and himself were left standing by the gate . But the gallant musician 's soul was so much disturbed by tender vibrations and by the sense of his presumption that he could not begin ; and it may be questioned if he would ever have broached the subject at all , had not a distant church clock opportunely assisted him by striking the hour of three . The trumpet-major heaved a breath of relief . ` That clock strikes in G sharp , ' he said . ` Indeed -- G sharp ? '