three o'clock
It was sealed , and even had it not been , propriety would have prevented her ascertaining the contents ; but the very fact of there being such a reply left , for _ her _ to deliver , told that the shot must have sped home , and that the expected bridegroom had indeed fled from his bridal . How the young girl managed to walk to her own room and once more array herself for the street , with that dizzy sensation in her head , half of joy , half of fright -- how she silently and swiftly quitted the house again , and made her way through the blazing afternoon sunshine , once more to the little house of Mrs. Halstead , -- she will probably never know . People have walked in dreams , and others have done acts while under the influence of _ waking _ sleep , for which they were scarcely responsible . It is enough to say that at three o'clock that afternoon Josephine Harris was aroused from the sound slumber by which her sick-headache was being rapidly cured -- once more to receive the young girl , whom she had little expected to see so soon . When she descended the stairs , she found Mary Crawford standing alone within the door of the sitting-room , Susan , who had admitted her , having shown the innate delicacy of the good by retiring with only a kind word and a sisterly kiss . The moment Josephine entered the room and saw Mary standing there , her eyes full of unnatural brightness , her cheeks all aglow with excitement like that of fever , and her glorious auburn hair rudely dishevelled under her gipsy hat , -- she knew that her own effort had not failed -- that surprise , and not disappointment , was the feeling written upon that speaking face . Without a word Mary Crawford threw herself into Joe Harris 's arms , then slid slowly to her knees , holding her arms still around the stranger of only a few hours before , now dearer and more precious to her than any sister could ever have been .