a quarter before six
Her aunt had written her more seriously and with great affection . She told her to send for her at once if she needed her , and she would come . Charlotte , going down the street towards the station that night , expected a letter by the five-o'clock train . She reached the post-office , which was near the station , at a quarter before six , and she found , as she anticipated , letters . There were several for her father , which she thought , accusingly towards the writers , were bills . It was odd that Charlotte , while not really morally perverted , and while she admitted the right of people to be paid , did not admit the right of any one to annoy her father by presenting his bill . She looked at the letters , and , remembering the wretched expression on her father 's face on receiving some the night before , it actually entered into her mind to tear these letters up and never let him see them at all .