three o'clock
And then the talk drifted back to easier subjects , and he did not again press that question as to the date of the marriage . At last the time came for going to the station . He had arranged for Mr. Lister 's gig to call for him at the cottage , so that he might spend every possible moment with Marian . And at three o'clock the gig appeared , driven by Martin Lister himself , and Gilbert was fain to say good-bye . His last lingering backward glance showed him the white figure under the walnut-trees , and a little hand waving farewell . How empty and dreary his comfortable bachelor lodgings seemed to him that night when he had dined , and sat by the open window smoking his solitary cigar , listening to the dismal street-noises , and the monotonous roll of ceaseless wheels yonder in Oxford-street ; not caring to go out to his club , caring still less for opera or theatre , or any of the old ways whereby he had been wont to dispose of his evenings ! His mind was full of Marian Nowell .