two o'clock
The day had passed in a most unsatisfactory manner , according to his way of looking at it . Yet he had come more clearly to an understanding of the girl ; her cheerfulness , her unselfishness , and , above all , the sweet , beautiful philosophy of life that must lie back , to render her so uncomplainingly the slave of the self-willed woman , yet without the indifferent cynicism of Gerald , the sullen , yet real , partisanship of Kendrick , or the general 's week-kneed acquiescence . The next morning he succeeded in making an arrangement by letter for an excursion to the newly projected Central Park . Promptly at two o'clock he was at the Bishops ' house . To his inquiry the butler said that Mrs. Bishop had recovered from her indisposition , and that Miss Bishop would be down immediately . Orde had not long to wait for her . The SWISH , PAT-PAT of her joyous descent of the stairs brought him to his feet .