Thomas Brown mends the calendar, and while Ms. Ellison is in the post office, she asks for the date. Laura says it is Tuesday the 24th of August. In 1895 the 24th of August was a Saturday. The closest year that the 24th of August is on a Tuesday is 1897, but just after this incident, Ms Ellison is hinting to Mr. Brown about when she wants the marriage to be, and she says that she knows that the 14th of October is a Saturday. In 1895 that date was a Monday, and in 1897 it was a Thursday.