about three o'clock in the afternoon
` At what time shall we arrive , may I ask , do you think ? ' the Countess gently inquired . The watch of a man who had his eye on Time was pulled out , and she was told it might be two hours before dark . Another reckoning , keenly balanced , informed the company that the day 's papers could be expected on board somewhere about three o'clock in the afternoon . ` And then , ' said the Hon. Melville , nodding general gratulation , ` we shall know how the world wags . ' How it had been wagging the Countess 's straining eyes under closed eyelids were eloquent of . ` Too late , I fear me , to wait upon Lord Livelyston to-night ? '