four o'clock
Herbert , in the next pew , in church , and Henry in the next beyond that , were perfect compositions in smugness . They were cold , contented , aristocratic ; and had an imperturbable understanding between themselves -LRB- even then perceptible to the sensitive Florence -RRB- that she was a nuisance now capably disposed of by their beautiful discovery of `` Say not so ! '' Florence 's feelings were unbecoming to the place and occasion . But at four o'clock , that afternoon , she was assuaged into a milder condition by the arrival , according to an agreement made in Sunday-school , of the popular Miss Patty Fairchild . Patty was thirteen and a half ; an exquisite person with gold-dusted hair , eyes of singing blue , and an alluring air of sweet self-consciousness . Henry Rooter and Herbert Illingsworth Atwater , Jr. , out gathering news , saw her entering Florence 's gate , and immediately forgot that they were reporters . They became silent , gradually moving toward the house of their newspaper 's sole poetess .