about
eleven o'clock
I promised her that I would be back for Christmas at the latest . She came out to the yard-gate to wish me good-bye : my servants were gone in front ; and my Cousin Tom had the sense to be out of the way ; so our good-byes were all that such miserable things ever can be . I waved to her at the corner , and she waved back . When we came about two miles to the north of Amwell -- which we did about eleven o'clock , as I had been bid , I bade my servants stay behind , and not come after me till half an hour later ; further I bade them , if , when they came , they found me in any man 's company , neither to salute me nor to make any sign of recognition ; but to pass straight on to Hoddesdon and wait for me there , not at the inn where I was known , but at another little one -- the _ King 's Arms _ -- at the further end of the village , and there they were to dine . Even then , when I came , if I did , they were not to salute me until I had spoken with them . All this I did , interpreting as well as I could , what Mr. Chiffinch had said ; and they , since they were well-trained in that kind of service , understood me perfectly . It was near half-past eleven when I came , riding very slowly , into the village street , looking this way and that so as to shew my face , but as if I were just looking about me .