one o'clock
On the following morning , Julia 's condition was very much improved , and the physician spoke confidently of a favorable issue . Harry was permitted to spend an hour by her bedside , inhaling the pure spirit that pervaded the soul of the sick one . She was so much better that her father proposed to visit the city , to attend to some urgent business , which had been long deferred by her illness ; and an opportunity was thus afforded for Harry to return . Mr. Bryant drove furiously in his haste , changing horses twice on the journey , so that they reached the city at one o'clock . On their arrival , Harry 's attention naturally turned to the reception he expected to receive from his employers . He had not spoken of his relations with them at Rockville , preferring not to pain them , on the one hand , and not to take too much credit to himself for his devotion to Julia , on the other . After the horse was disposed of at Major Phillips 's stable , Mr. Bryant walked down town with Harry ; and when they reached the store of Wake & Wade , he entered with him .