three o'clock
Take that toasted child away , and fan her like a Chinese mandarin , while I dish up this dreadful dinner . '' John and Nan fled like chaff before the wind , while Di , full of remorseful zeal , charged at the kettles , and wrenched off the potatoes ' jackets , as if she were revengefully pulling her own hair . Laura had a vague intention of going to assist ; but , getting lost among the lights and shadows of Minerva 's helmet , forgot to appear till dinner had been evoked from chaos and peace was restored . At three o'clock , Di performed the coronation ceremony with her father 's best hat ; Laura retied his old-fashioned neckcloth , and arranged his white locks with an eye to saintly effect ; Nan appeared with a beautifully written sermon , and suspicious ink-stains on the fingers that slipped it into his pocket ; John attached himself to the bag ; and the patriarch was escorted to the door of his tent with the triumphal procession which usually attended his out-goings and in-comings . Having kissed the female portion of his tribe , he ascended the venerable chariot , which received him with audible lamentation , as its rheumatic joints swayed to and fro . `` Good-bye , my dears ! I shall be back early on Monday morning ; so take care of yourselves , and be sure you all go and hear Mr. Emerboy preach to-morrow .