three o'clock
Mark left the lady of his delight staidly discussing the relative merits of lemonade and gingersnaps and two pounds of `` broken mixed '' candy , as evening refreshments , and carried away a troubled heart . He wrote Julia , at least twice a week , shyly affectionate and honestly egotistical letters , but it was some months before he saw her again . Julia 's visit to her grandparents , through which Mark had been able to trace her , had taken place some days before , on a certain Wednesday afternoon . Suddenly , after the daily three o'clock sewing class had had its meeting in the big hall , the thought had come to her that she must see her own people . It was a still autumn afternoon , a little chilly , and Julia , setting forth , felt small relish for her errand . Her grandmother 's house presented a dingy , discouraging front . Julia twisted the familiar old bell , and got the familiar old odours of carbolic acid and boiling onions , superimposed upon a basis of thick , heavy , stale air .