nine o'clock
He becomes ashamed before the monotonous rose-bushes that speck the wall , and as his wandering orbs scan the picture-nails and the cobwebs in search of distraction , he will realize the necessity of amendment more fully than the eloquence of a multitude could paint it . It was the weariness of this new realization that caused Guy to stretch out his hand for his uncle 's neglected note of last night , seeking as he thought , something therein that need not remind a fellow of what he knew `` deuced '' well already . As his glance fell on the page , his brow contracted into a slow puzzled look , and as he finished the last word he started up . It was now after nine o'clock and Honor was far on her journey . The note was dated 5 p.m. . He would have received it time enough if he had not squandered away his hours from his room , but now she was gone and there was no excuse he could offer to satisfy himself . It is necessary that we should part from some friends to know how much we love them , and this necessity visited Guy in its most cruel phase .