five o'clock
I shall be clerk , and Mat Paine can copy it out after . ' Mammy once more deposited in her arm-chair , with her knitting in her hand , and the cat purring at her elbow , Janet seated herself at the table , while Mr. Dempster placed himself near her , took out his snuff-box , and plentifully suffusing himself with the inspiring powder , began to dictate . What he dictated , we shall see by-and-by . The next day , Friday , at five o'clock by the sun-dial , the large bow-window of Mrs. Jerome 's parlour was open ; and that lady herself was seated within its ample semicircle , having a table before her on which her best tea-tray , her best china , and her best urn-rug had already been standing in readiness for half an hour . Mrs. Jerome 's best tea-service was of delicate white fluted china , with gold sprigs upon it -- as pretty a tea-service as you need wish to see , and quite good enough for chimney ornaments ; indeed , as the cups were without handles , most visitors who had the distinction of taking tea out of them , wished that such charming china had already been promoted to that honorary position . Mrs. Jerome was like her china , handsome and old-fashioned . She was a buxom lady of sixty , in an elaborate lace cap fastened by a frill under her chin , a dark , well-curled front concealing her forehead , a snowy neckerchief exhibiting its ample folds as far as her waist , and a stiff grey silk gown .