nearly seven o'clock
At length I inquired how he meant to arrange for Lizzie Maurice 's return to her home , as it would not do for us , unless he wished the part we had taken in the affair to be known all over Cambridge , to escort her to her father 's door in the order of procession in which we were then advancing . `` No , I was just thinking of that , '' replied Oaklands . `` It appears to me that the quietest way of managing the affair will be to pay the boy for the horse and cart at once , telling him to set Lizzie Maurice down within a short distance of her father 's shop , and then to drive back with the woman . Lizzie can proceed on foot , and will probably at this time of the evening -LRB- it was nearly seven o'clock -RRB- be able to enter the house without attracting attention : we will , however , keep her in sight , so as to be at hand to render her assistance should she require ~ 197 ~ ~ it . I do not myself feel the slightest doubt that her father will believe her tale , and treat her kindly . I shall , however , leave her my direction , and should she require my testimony in support of her veracity , or should the old man be unwilling to receive her , she must inform me of it , and I will call upon him , and try to bring him to reason . '' `` That will not be necessary , depend upon it , '' returned I ; `` he will only be too glad to recover her . ''