about noon
Aunt Patsy , whose vitality had been wonderfully aroused , now that there was some opportunity for making use of it , spent nearly two hours turning over , examining , and reflecting upon a pair of old-fashioned corsets , which , although they had been long cherished , she had never worn . She now hoped that the occasion for their use had at last arrived but the utter impossibility of getting herself into them was finally made apparent to her , and she mournfully returned them to the trunk . Washing , starching , ironing , darning , patching , and an immense deal of talk and consultation , occupied that and a good deal of the following day , the rest of which was given up to the repairing of an immense pair of green baize shoes , without which Aunt Patsy could not be persuaded to go into the outer air . It was Saturday morning when she began to dress for the trip , and although Isham , wearing a high silk hat , and a long black coat which had once belonged to a clergyman , arrived with the ox cart about noon , the old woman was not ready to start till two or three hours afterward . Her assistants , who had increased in number , were active and assiduous . Aunt Patsy was very particular as to the manner of her garbing , and gave them a great deal of trouble . It had been fifteen years since she had set foot outside of her house , and ten more since she had ridden in any kind of vehicle .