three o'clock
And now , quick march . A week has elapsed , and now -- there is no call for music now , for these are but the vanquished crawling back , Joe Meldrum and -- and another . No , it is not Tod , he stays on in Aberdeen , for he is a twelve-pound tenner . The two were within a mile of Thrums at three o'clock , but after that they lagged , waiting for the gloaming , when they stole to their homes , ducking as they passed windows without the blinds down . Elspeth ran to Tommy when he appeared in the doorway , and then she got quickly between him and Aaron . The warper was sitting by the fire at his evening meal , and he gave the wanderer a long steady look , then without a word returned to his porridge and porter . It was a less hearty welcome home even than Joe 's ; his mother was among those who had wept to lose her son , but when he came back to her she gave him a whack on the head with the thieval .