two o'clock
It was her only jewel -- Amherst 's marriage gift . She would have preferred a less valuable present , but his mother had persuaded her to accept it , saying that it was the bride 's duty to adorn herself for the bridegroom . `` I will give you nothing -- '' she was about to exclaim ; when suddenly her eyes fell on the clock . If Amherst had caught the two o'clock express he would be at the house within the hour ; and the only thing that seemed of consequence now , was that he should not meet Wyant . Supposing she still found courage to refuse -- there was no knowing how long the humiliating scene might be prolonged : and she must be rid of the creature at any cost . After all , she seldom wore the sapphire -- months might pass without its absence being noted by Amherst 's careless eye ; and if Wyant should pawn it , she might somehow save money to buy it back before it was missed . She went through these calculations with feverish rapidity ; then she turned again to Wyant .