about half after three o'clock
`` Oh , Matt , there is nobody in the world like you , '' I said as I cast myself on his patience and imperturbability and also the strength of his broad shoulder next mine . I could positively hear Bess and Owen 's joy over this bride-like manifestation , which the wind took back to them as we went sailing out of town towards the Riverfield ribbon . And to their further joy I put my cheek down against Matthew 's throttle arm and closed my eyes so that I did not see anything of the twenty-mile progression out to Elmnest . I only opened them when we arrived in Riverfield at about half after three o'clock . Was the village out to greet me ? It was not . Every front door was closed , and every front shutter shut , and I might have felt that some dire disapproval was being expressed of me and my wedding if I had not seen smoke fairly belching from every kitchen chimney , and if I had n't known that each house was filled with the splash of vigorous tubbing for which the kitchen stoves and wash boilers were supplying the hot water .