four o'clock
She glared at Frances , and her face , usually beautiful despite the lack of youth , became hideous with rage . She was making ready for another attack of words , if not of finger nails , when the duchess interposed , saying : -- `` Evidently some one has been hoaxing you , Lady Castlemain . Mistress Jennings was not kidnapped Sunday nor any other day . She has been with me constantly of late , excepting Sunday after four o'clock , and she has accounted for herself from that time till her return to my closet . '' Castlemain was whipped out , so she turned the whole matter off with a forced laugh , saying : -- `` It was that fool Rochester who set the rumor afloat . '' After standing through an awkward minute or two , Castlemain bowed stiffly to the king and the duchess , turned away from our group , and soon left the ballroom . When Castlemain was gone , we all laughed save the king .