four o'clock
Hayden mentioned the beauty of the day -- it was overcast -- the charm of this soft and mild weather -- an east wind blew piercingly -- and diffidently assumed that after a day in her studio , she would as usual take the air by walking home through the Park . Yes-s-s-s , she probably would . Then since he had hoped to call upon her mother that afternoon , might he not join her and walk up with her , and would she not be leaving her brushes and canvases early , at half-after four , for instance . Yes-s-s , he said four o'clock , did he not ? Fate again honored him , she would be at the Plaza then calling on a friend . Hayden had won in his dice-throwing and Fate took defeat handsomely , granting him his desires and throwing a favor or two for lagnappe . By four o'clock the wind had veered , the clouds no longer betokened rain , broken spars of sunshine dazzled over the gold of the Sherman statue , sparkled in the harness of prancing horses , and brightened the whiteness of the great hotel .