four o'clock in the afternoon
A man who knows you can not look at you in the same way as one who knows you not , and it was this look of knowledge which had unnerved Hugo , and make him doubt the evidence of his own senses . He was still silent and absorbed when he arrived at Netherglen , and felt glad to hear that he was not to see his aunt until later in the day . Angela came to meet him at the door ; she was pale , and her black dress made her look very slender and fragile , but she had the old , sweet smile and pleasant words of welcome for him , and could not understand why his face was so gloomy , and his eyes so obstinately averted from her own . It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Hugo was admitted to Mrs. Luttrell 's sitting-room . He had scarcely seen her since the death of her eldest son , and was manifestly startled and shocked to see her looking so much more aged and worn than she had been two years ago . She greeted him much after her usual fashion , however ; she allowed him to touch her smooth , cold cheek with his lips , and take her stiff hand into his own , but she showed no trace of any softening emotion . `` Sit down , Hugo , '' she said .