about two
o'clock
Otherwise , too , Ben was unlovely . His feet were by no means dainty , his coat was a dirty looking dappled-white , and his mane so attenuated it needed a toupee . As if appreciating his defects , Ben wore an apologetic , almost timid , expression of countenance , which greatly belied his true stubbornness of character . Not yet aware of the turn-out they must put up with , about two o'clock that afternoon Missy set out for Tess 's house . She departed unobtrusively by the back door and side gate . The reason for this almost surreptitious leave-taking was in the package she carried under her arm . It held her mother 's best black silk skirt , which boasted a `` sweep '' ; a white waist of Aunt Nettie 's ; a piece of Chantilly lace which had once been draped on mother 's skirt but was destined , to-day , to become a `` mantilla '' ; and a magnificent `` willow plume '' snipped from Aunt Nettie 's Sunday hat .