four in the afternoon
Lebas , who had advised his friend to become a suitor for Mademoiselle Virginie , saw all his hopes wrecked . Mademoiselle Virginie , overcome by hearing that Joseph had , in a way , refused her , had a sick headache . The dispute that had arisen from the discussion between Monsieur and Madame Guillaume , when , for the third time in their lives , they had been of antagonistic opinions , had shown itself in a terrible form . Finally , at half-past four in the afternoon , Augustine , pale , trembling , and with red eyes , was haled before her father and mother . The poor child artlessly related the too brief tale of her love . Reassured by a speech from her father , who promised to listen to her in silence , she gathered courage as she pronounced to her parents the name of Theodore de Sommervieux , with a mischievous little emphasis on the aristocratic _ de _ . And yielding to the unknown charm of talking of her feelings , she was brave enough to declare with innocent decision that she loved Monsieur de Sommervieux , that she had written to him , and she added , with tears in her eyes : `` To sacrifice me to another man would make me wretched . ''