three
o'clock
The Harding improvements improved so fast , that sand , cement , and the big pile of lumber began accumulating at Peter 's corner of the crossroads below the home , for the playhouse . Men who started by calling Peter a fool , ended by borrowing his plans and belabouring themselves for their foolishness ; for the neighbourhood was awakening and beginning to develop a settled conviction as to what constituted the joy of life , and that the place to enjoy it was at home , and the time immediately . Peter 's reward was not only in renewed happiness for himself and Nancy ; equal to it was his pleasure over the same renewal for many of his lifelong friends . Mickey started on his day to Atwater with joyful anticipation , but he jumped from Douglas ' car and ran up the Harding front walk at three o'clock , his face anxious . He saw the Harding car at the gate , and wondered at Peter sitting dressed for leisure on the veranda . `` Got anxious about Lily , '' he explained . `` Out on the lake I thought I heard her call me , then I had the notion she was crying for me .