the hour of three
While I saw clearly the dangers the girl would encounter ; I had faith in her strength , and felt sure the chances of making her fortune were worth the risk . In other words , I was staking a human soul which was infinitely dear to me , against wealth and station -- a hundred to one chance , even with the Fates smiling . When one considers how seldom the long odds are taken and how often they win , one can not help believing that courage is the touchstone of Fortune ; the criterion by which the capricious Goddess measures her votaries and distributes her smiles . I made my journey to Sundridge and arrived there in the afternoon near the hour of three , finding my uncle and my cousin Sarah at home , but Frances abroad . `` She walks a great deal nowadays , '' remarked my uncle , and Sarah assented with -- `` Yes , a great deal , '' having , I fancied , more significance in her manner than in her words . `` There has been hardly a pleasant afternoon in a month that she has not been abroad with her book , '' continued Sir Richard . `` Her book , '' murmured Sarah , who was a laconic young person , much given to observing conditions about her and equally prone to keep her conclusions to herself .