nine
o'clock
For four hours she had been trying to get to the spot where she could see with her own eyes , and at last she had come to it . Of course , she had to admit to herself that she did not actually hear Mr. Medcroft tell Constance that he loved her , but it was enough for her that he sat with her in the semi-darkness for two unbroken hours , speaking in tones so low that they might just as well have been whispering so far as her taut ears were concerned . Moreover , other persons than herself had smilingly nudged each other and referred to the couple as lovers ; no one seemed to doubt it -- nor to resent it , which is proof that the world loves a lover when it recognises him as one . Mrs. Rodney also discovered that Mrs. Medcroft went to her room at nine o'clock , at least three hours before the subdued tête-à-tête came to an end . The poor thing doubtless was crying her eyes out , decided Mrs. Rodney . And now , after all this , is it to be considered surprising that the distressed mother of Katherine did not sleep well that night ? Nor should her wakefulness be laid at the door of the tired Mr. Rodney , who was ever a firm and stentorian sleeper .