three
o'clock
He had set his heart upon this marriage , and it would have to be a good reason that could turn him from his purpose . Accordingly , having extracted the above information , he said no more to Philip , but proceeded to lay his own plans . That very afternoon he commenced to put them into action . At three o'clock he ordered the carriage and pair , a vehicle that was rarely used , giving special directions that the coachman should see that his wig was properly curled . An ill-curled wig had before now been known to produce a very bad effect upon Mr. Caresfoot 's nerves , and also upon its wearer 's future prospects in life . At three precisely the heavy open carriage , swung upon C-springs and drawn by two huge greys , drew up in front of the hall-door , and the squire , who was as usual dressed in the old-fashioned knee-breeches , and carried in his hand his gold-headed cane , stepped solemnly into it , and seated himself exactly in the middle of the back seat , not leaning back , as is the fashion of our degenerate days , but holding himself bolt upright . Any more imposing sight than this old gentleman presented thus seated , and moving at a stately pace through the village street , it is impossible to conceive ; but it so oppressed the very children that fear at the spectacle -LRB- which was an unwonted one , for the squire had not thus driven abroad in state for some years -RRB- overcame their curiosity , and at his approach they incontinently fled .