about three o'clock in the afternoon
I know you will improve in time , ' said Aunt Mary , kindly . There was no reading this morning , because Clara and Aunt Mary , who were both rapid seamstresses , had agreed , if possible , to finish the night-shirt that had been cut out , and take it with them in the evening , when they went to call at the cottage of poor Simmons , whom they had not seen since their return home , but of whom they had learned from Bridget a pretty satisfactory account . The good woman had taken them under her especial care while her mistress was away . There was no lack of pleasant conversation when Aunt Mary was in the room , and the work progressed well during the morning hours ; but , unfortunately , about three o'clock in the afternoon some friends came to call , and as it was evident to Miss Livesay that this would prevent their visit to the cottage that evening , she bade the young people put away their work , and try to find some amusement in the garden . Clara felt sorry and disappointed at this postponement , though she said nothing , but prepared to obey her aunt . With Mabel , however , this was quite an unexpected pleasure , and so rapidly did she gather up her work , without folding it neatly together , that the needle ran into her finger , and brought the blood so quickly that two or three large spots were deposited on the sleeves . ` Oh , aunt will be so cross when she sees what I have done ! '