three P.M.
So Oscar wrote : `` Called , two p.m. , '' on a scrap of envelope , signed his name , and put it through the letter-slit . It crossed his mind to hunt other pupils for his vacant time , but he decided against this at once , and returned to his own room . Three o'clock found him back at the door , knocking scrupulously , The idea of performing his side of the contract , of tendering his goods and standing ready at all times to deliver them , was in his commercially mature mind . This time he had brought a neat piece of paper with him , and wrote upon it , `` Called , three P.M. , '' and signed it as before , and departed to his room with a sense of fulfilled obligations . Bertie and Billy had lunched at Mattapan quite happily on cold ham , cold pie , and doughnuts . Mattapan , not being accustomed to such lilies of the field , stared at their clothes and general glory , but observed that they could eat the native bill-of-fare as well as anybody . They found some good , cool beer , moreover , and spoke to several people of the Bird-in-Hand , and got several answers : for instance , that the Bird-in-Hand was at Hingham ; that it was at Nantasket ; that they had better inquire for it at South Braintree ; that they had passed it a mile back ; and that there was no such place .