about four o'clock in the
afternoon
Even if Oliver Trent came to the house that afternoon it would not matter : it would be only `` once in a way . '' And Lesley secretly hoped that he would not come . But he came . A little later than usual -- about four o'clock in the afternoon , when there was no light in the drawing-room but that of the ruddy blaze , and the tea-tray had not yet been brought up . When Lesley saw him she wished that she had sent down word that she was engaged , that she had a headache , or even that she was -- conventionally -- not at home . Anything rather than a tête-à-tête with Oliver Trent ! And yet she would have been puzzled to say why .