five o'clock
`` Same old story of the absorbed American father and the mother with nerves '' * * * * * Two afternoons later , as Harwood was crossing University Park on his way to his boarding-house , he stopped short and stared . A little ahead of him in the walk strolled a girl and a young man , laughing and talking with the greatest animation . There was no questioning their identity . It was five o'clock and quite dark , and the air was sharp . Harwood paused and waited for the two loiterers to cross the lighted space about the little park 's central fountain . It seemed incredible that Marian and Allen should be abroad together in this dallying fashion . His anger rose against Allen , but he curbed an impulse to send him promptly about his business and take Marian back to the Whitcomb .