About three o'clock in the afternoon
I tried to call on Mary twice and both times she was out -- to me . Finally people began to see that there was a serious difference between us and they avoided inviting us to small parties together , so that I saw her at only the largest , most formal and most stupid functions . I had told Helen one day that I would be late to dinner on account of an important case . About three o'clock in the afternoon , however , I found that a certain book I needed was at the house , so I jumped into the car and went up after it . Mary 's electric was out in front . For a moment I contemplated flight , Mary so obviously disliked me , but being determined that no girl in the world could keep me from going where I pleased , I trotted up the steps . The door opened just as I reached the porch , and disclosed Mary hastily saying `` Good-by '' to Helen .