two o'clock
What chiefly comforted him was the fact of an ally whom the young thing had apparently found in Lemuel 's mother . Whether that grim personage 's ignorant pride in her son had been satisfied with a girl of Statira 's style and fashion , and proven capableness in housekeeping , or whether some fancy for butterfly prettiness lurking in the fastnesses of the old woman 's rugged nature had been snared by the gay face and dancing eyes , it was apparent that she at least was in love with Statira . She allowed herself to be poked about and rearranged as to her shawl and the narrow-brimmed youthful hat which she wore on the peak of her skull , and she softened to something like a smile at the touch of Statira 's quick hands . They had all come rather early to make their parting visit at the Sewells , for the Barkers were going to take the two o'clock train for Willoughby Pastures , while Statira was to remain in Boston till he could make a home for her . Lemuel promised to write , as soon as he should be settled , and tell Sewell about his life and his work ; and Sewell , beyond earshot of his wife , told him he might certainly count upon seeing them at Willoughby in the course of the next summer . They all shook hands several times . Lemuel 's mother gave her hand from under the fringe of her shawl , standing bolt upright at arm 's - length off , and Sewell said it felt like a collection of corn-cobs .