four o'clock
A number of visitors came to the door that day , some of them prompted by friendliness and some by sheer curiosity , for Mrs. Lee 's abrupt disappearance from the ball had excited remark . Against all these her door was firmly closed . On the other hand , as the afternoon went on , she sent Sybil away , so that she might have the field entirely to herself , and Sybil , relieved of all her alarms , sallied out to interrupt Dunbeg 's latest interview with his Countess , and to amuse herself with Victoria 's last `` phase . '' Towards four o'clock the tall form of Mr. Ratcliffe was seen to issue from the Treasury Department and to descend the broad steps of its western front . Turning deliberately towards the Square , the Secretary of the Treasury crossed the Avenue and stopping at Mrs. Lee 's door , rang the bell . He was immediately admitted . Mrs. Lee was alone in her parlour and rose rather gravely as he entered , but welcomed him as cordially as she could .