about ten o'clock
Mr. Povey , after consulting Mrs. Baines , had decided to close them , foregoing the customary display . Mr. Povey had also , in order to get a little warmth into his limbs , personally assisted two casual labourers to scrape the thick frozen snow off the pavement ; and he wore his kid mittens . All these things together proved better than the evidence of barometers how the weather nipped . Mr. Scales came about ten o'clock . Instead of going to Mr. Povey 's counter , he walked boldly to Constance 's corner , and looked over the boxes , smiling and saluting . Both the girls candidly delighted in his visit . Both blushed ; both laughed -- without knowing why they laughed .