five o'clock
Having just determined never to go near Mrs. Horn 's Thursdays again , he decided to go once more , in order to plant this sting in her capacious but somewhat callous bosom ; and he planned how he would lead the talk up to the point from which he should launch it . In the mean time he felt the need of some present solace , such as only unqualified worship could give him ; a cruel wish to feel his power in some direction where , even if it were resisted , it could not be overcome , drove him on . That a woman who was to Beaton the embodiment of artificiality should intimate , however innocently -- the innocence made it all the worse -- that he was less honest than Wetmore , whom he knew to be so much more honest , was something that must be retaliated somewhere before his self-respect could be restored . It was only five o'clock , and he went on up-town to the Dryfooses ' , though he had been there only the night before last . He asked for the ladies , and Mrs. Mandel received him . `` The young ladies are down-town shopping , '' she said , `` but I am very glad of the opportunity of seeing you alone , Mr. Beaton . You know I lived several years in Europe . ''