three o'clock
I am sure , if he thinks Louis 's conduct exemplary , Louis must have the sort of happiness he used to wish for most , and his father would do his very best to gratify him . ' That sentence was Mary 's cheval de bataille in her discussions with James , who could never be alone with her without broaching the subject . The two cousins often walked together during James 's month at Northwold . The town church was not very efficiently served , and was only opened in the morning and late evening on Sundays , without any afternoon prayers , and James was often in the habit of walking to Ormersfield church for the three o'clock service , and asking Mary to join him . Their return was almost always occupied in descriptions of Miss Conway 's perfections , and Mary learnt to believe that two beings , evidently compounded of every creature 's best , must be destined for each other . ` How well it is , ' she thought , ` that I did not stand in the way . Oh !