five o'clock
There is a sinister expression in his eyes and round his mouth as he notes this studied avoidance . It is now `` golden September , '' and a few days later . For the last fortnight Florence has been making strenuous efforts to leave the castle , but Dora would not hear of their departure , and Florence , feeling it will be selfish of her to cut short Dora 's happy hours with her supposed lover , sighs , and gives in , and sacrifices her own wishes on the altar of friendship . It is five o'clock , and all the men , gun in hand , have been out since early dawn . Now they are coming straggling home , in ones or twos . Amongst the first to return are Sir Adrian and his cousin Arthur Dynecourt , who , having met accidentally about a mile from home , have trudged the remainder of the way together . On the previous night at dinner , Miss Delmaine had spoken of a small gold bangle , a favorite of hers , she was greatly in the habit of wearing .