six o’clock
`` Major Milroy 's compliments , and he was sorry that Mrs. Milroy 's illness would prevent his receiving Mr. Armadale that day . '' It was plain that Mrs. Milroy 's occasional fits of suffering -LRB- or of ill temper -RRB- created no mere transitory disturbance of the tranquillity of the household . Drawing this natural inference , after what he had himself heard at the cottage nearly three hours since , Midwinter withdrew into the library to wait patiently among the books until his friend came back . It was past six o'clock when the well-known hearty voice was heard again in the hall . Allan burst into the library , in a state of irrepressible excitement , and pushed Midwinter back unceremoniously into the chair from which he was just rising , before he could utter a word . `` Here 's a riddle for you , old boy ! '' cried Allan .