half past three
At breakfast , in the charmed freedom of the domestic circle , Clarence forgot Susy 's capricious commands of yesterday , and began to address himself to her in his old earnest fashion , until he was warned by a significant knitting of the young lady 's brows and monosyllabic responses . But in his youthful loyalty to Mrs. Peyton , he was more pained to notice Susy 's occasional unconscious indifference to her adopted mother 's affectionate expression , and a more conscious disregard of her wishes . So uneasy did he become , in his sensitive concern for Mrs. Peyton 's half-concealed mortification , that he gladly accepted Peyton 's offer to go with him to visit the farm and corral . As the afternoon approached , with another twinge of self-reproach , he was obliged to invent some excuse to decline certain hospitable plans of Mrs. Peyton 's for his entertainment , and at half past three stole somewhat guiltily , with his horse , from the stables . But he had to pass before the outer wall of the garden and grille , through which he had seen Mary the day before . Raising his eyes mechanically , he was startled to see Mrs. Peyton standing behind the grating , with her abstracted gaze fixed upon the wind-tossed , level grain beyond her . She smiled as she saw him , but there were traces of tears in her proud , handsome eyes .