eleven o'clock
`` No , dearest ; go into the drawing-room . '' Mary obediently did as she was bid ; and there she sat , for the next three hours , wondering , wondering , wondering . During the greater part of that time , however , she well knew that Mr Gresham , senior , and Mr Gresham , junior , were both with her uncle , below . At eleven o'clock the doctor 's visitors came . He had expected them somewhat earlier , and was beginning to become fidgety . He had so much on his hands that he could not sit still for a moment till he had , at any rate , commenced it . The expected footsteps were at last heard on the gravel-path , and a moment or two afterwards Janet ushered the father and son into the room .