eight o’clock
`` He is sure to be in soon . '' Constance remained silent ; not satisfied . A nameless , undefined sort of dread was creeping over her . Engaged with Annabel until eight o'clock , when she returned to the general sitting-room , she found Charles absent , much to her surprise . Expecting him to make his appearance every moment , the time may have seemed to her long , and his absence all the more unaccountable . It had now gone on to half-past nine , and still he was not come in , and his lessons were not done . It was his hour for bed time .