eleven o'clock
The man had become her master ; and even could she have brought herself to be false , she would have lacked the courage to declare her falsehood to the man to whom she had vowed her love . On the following morning Lady Anna did not come down to breakfast , and the Countess began to fear that she would be unable to induce her girl to rise in time to receive their visitor . But the poor child had resolved to receive the man 's visit , and contemplated no such escape as that . At eleven o'clock she slowly dressed herself , and before twelve crept down into the one sitting-room which they occupied . The Countess glanced round at her , anxious to see that she was looking her best . Certain instructions had been given as to her dress , and the garniture of her hair , and the disposal of her ribbons . All these had been fairly well obeyed ; but there was a fixed , determined hardness in her face which made her mother fear that the Earl might be dismayed .