eight o'clock
Dorinda warned me not to go far from the house because supper would be ready in a few minutes . The word `` supper '' reminded me of my unfortunate choice of an excuse and the sarcastic reference to our odd domestic arrangements ; which reminded me , in its turn , of other sarcasms which had followed it . My `` charming and cultivated society '' was not necessary to her happiness ... When she thought of how she had lowered herself ... Other people did not necessarily regard me as seriously as I did myself ... And so on ... until Dorinda called me in to sit at the table , and pretend to eat while she and Lute commented on my lack of appetite and my absent-mindedness . It was eight o'clock , and I had gone up to my room to escape from their solicitude and pointed questioning , when I happened to think of Nellie 's note . I had not been curious concerning its contents , for , as I had agreed to act as best man at the wedding , I assumed , as Dorinda had done , that she had written on that , to her , all-important topic . I took the note from my pocket and tore open the envelope . Nellie had not written about the wedding .