four o'clock
Mrs. Hunter did not refer to it directly or indirectly , and this fact was the subject of much thought . This faultless manner of dismissing unpleasant things stood out in strong contrast to the endless and tiresome discussions to which the girl was accustomed . Elizabeth wished she could find time to run over to Uncle Nate 's for a chat with Aunt Susan , but the busy day absorbed her and there was no time to go anywhere ; in fact , it was time for John to come home from Colebyville , where he had gone to hunt for a hired man before the cleaning was really finished . Glancing up at the clock on the lambrequined shelf in the sitting room , the girl was surprised to see that it was already four o'clock . The cleaning was finished and she ran to the kitchen to put up the rag in her hand , and then went hurriedly into her bedroom to comb her hair and get her dress changed before John should come . Absorbed in her dressing , Elizabeth did not hear her husband enter the house until she heard him talking to his mother in the dining room . With freshly combed hair and clean calico dress she ran with a glad little bound to meet him .