four o’clock
He rushed home on the previous day with the news , to claim Aunt Jane 's promise ; and she undertook so to arrange matters as to be ready to go with him to the marble works at three o'clock . Valetta could not go , as she had her music lesson at that time , and she did not regret it , for she had an idea that blasting with powder or dynamite was always going on there . Gillian was not quite happy about the dynamite , but she did not like to forego the chance of seeing what the work of Kalliope and Alexis really was , so she expressed her willingness to join the party , and in the meantime did her best to prevent Aunt Ada from being driven distracted by Fergus 's impatience , which began at half-past two . Miss Mohun had darted out as soon as dinner was over , and he was quite certain some horrible cad would detain her till four o'clock , and then going would be of no use . Nevertheless he was miserable till Gillian had put on her hat , and then she could do nothing that would content him and keep him out of Aunt Ada 's way , but walk him up and down in the little front court with the copper beeches , while she thought they must present to the neighbours a lively tableau of a couple of leopards in a cage . However , precisely as the clock struck three , Aunt Jane walked up to the iron gate . She had secured an order from Mr. Stebbing , the managing partner , without which they would not have penetrated beyond the gate where ` No admittance except on business ' was painted .