about three
o'clock
`` I 'll send this one to Maria Gilman , for she sent me the necktie , an ' you can all copy it . '' Then Tom read the following letter , which he had written while the others had been talking : DEAR RIE : - I am much obliged for the invitation and the necktie . I will be there by eight o'clock if you will do a little favor for me . Us boys have been getting up a sleigh - ride for Saturday afternoon ; we shall start about three o'clock from the schoolhouse , and get back to Aggie 's in time for the party . Will you go ? I am sure aunt Betsey will feel grateful to you girls when she knows you each gave twenty cents towards making her comfortable , and if it had not been for the `` lack of money , '' we boys would have paid our share . Your friend , TOM .