four
o'clock
He took out his folded newspaper and waved it toward a group of phaetons and barouches drawn up on the pier a little apart from the pack of people , and a lady in one of them answered with a flourish of her parasol . When he had made his way with his guest through the crowd , she began to speak to her father before she noticed Corey . `` Well , Colonel , you 've improved your last chance . We 've been coming to every boat since four o'clock , -- or Jerry has , -- and I told mother that I would come myself once , and see if I could n't fetch you ; and if I failed , you could walk next time . You 're getting perfectly spoiled . '' The Colonel enjoyed letting her scold him to the end before he said , with a twinkle of pride in his guest and satisfaction in her probably being able to hold her own against any discomfiture , `` I 've brought Mr. Corey down for the night with me , and I was showing him things all the way , and it took time . '' The young fellow was at the side of the open beach-wagon , making a quick bow , and Penelope Lapham was cozily drawling , `` Oh , how do you do , Mr. Corey ? ''