ten at night
Alicia said nothing ; but the alertness of her brilliant eyes showed the activity of the brain behind them . While Mrs. Fotheringham went off to committees , Miss Drake spent the rest of the day in ministering to Lady Lucy , who found her company , her gossip about Beechcote , her sympathetic yet restrained attitude toward the whole matter , quite invaluable . But , in spite of these aids , the hours of waiting and suspense passed heavily , and Alicia said to herself that Cousin Lucy was beginning to look frail . Owing to the scantiness of Sunday trains , Marsham did not arrive at Beechcote village till between nine and ten at night . He left his bag at the village inn , tried to ignore the scarcely concealed astonishment with which the well-known master -- or reputed master -- of Tallyn was received within its extremely modest walls , and walked up to the manor-house . There he had a short conversation with Mrs. Colwood , who did not propose to tell Diana of his arrival till the morning . `` She does not know that I wrote to you , '' said the little lady , in her pale distress .