three o'clock
Thus they lingered , and the day began to break . Mrs. Garland and the miller took no heed of the time , and what it was bringing to earth and sky , so occupied were they with themselves ; but Anne in her place and the trumpet-major in his , each in private thought of no bright kind , watched the gradual glory of the east through all its tones and changes . The world of birds and insects got lively , the blue and the yellow and the gold of Loveday 's uniform again became distinct ; the sun bored its way upward , the fields , the trees , and the distant landscape kindled to flame , and the trumpet-major , backed by a lilac shadow as tall as a steeple , blazed in the rays like a very god of war . It was half-past three o'clock . A short time after , a rattle of horses and wheels reached their ears from the quarter in which they gazed , and there appeared upon the white line of road a moving mass , which presently ascended the hill and drew near . Then there arose a huzza from the few knots of watchers gathered there , and they cried , ` Long live King Jarge ! ' The cortege passed abreast .