about
ten o'clock
Mrs. Nichols looked on , silently thanking God for having made her an humble instrument in contributing so much to another 's happiness . `` Set down , '' said Aunt Polly , motioning toward a wooden bottomed chair ; `` set down , and let 's us talk over this great meracle , which I 've prayed and rastled for mighty nigh a hundred times , without havin ' an atom of faith that ` twould ever be . '' So Mrs. Nichols sat down , and for nearly an hour the old ladies talked , the one of her newly-found freedom , and the other of her happiness in knowing that '' 't was n't for nothin ' she was turned out of her old home and brought away over land and sea to Kentucky . '' Thursday morning came , bright , sunshiny and beautiful , and at about ten o'clock ` Lena , dressed and ready for her ride , came down to the parlor , where she found John Jr. listlessly leaning upon the table with his elbows , and drumming with his fingers . `` Come , cousin , '' said she , `` why are you not ready ? '' `` Ready for what ? '' he answered , without raising his head .