about four o’clock
With serpent speed and litheness she bowed her head against his chest , and slipped out of the embrace . On reaching the door she paused to say , over her shoulder : `` If you 'll wait , I 'll be back right soon ; '' then , as if a new thought had occurred to her , she added turning to him : `` The Deacon told me he was coming home early to-day , and he 'd be real sorry to miss you . '' As she disappeared , he took up his hat , and left the house . It was about four o'clock on a day in mid-June . The sun was pouring down rays of liquid flame ; the road , covered inches deep in fine white dust , and the wooden side-walks glowed with the heat , but up and down the steep hills went the minister unconscious of physical discomfort . `` Does she care for me , or not ? Why ca n't she tell me plainly ?