four o'clock
In looking over one of the drawers in her writing-table Mrs. Liddell had found that Katherine had left the shorter story behind . This rendered her prolonged absence less accountable , for she could have interviewed several publishers of three-volume novels in the time . The poor lady naturally feared that they must have refused even to look at her work , or Katherine would have returned . When dinner was over , and four o'clock came , Mrs. Liddell 's anxiety rose high ; she could not bear her daughter-in-law 's presence , and retired into her own den . `` Wo n't you stay and see Colonel Ormonde ? He used to be quite friendly with poor Fred in India , and I should like him to see what a nice handsome mamma-in-law I have , '' said Mrs. Fred , caressingly : she rather liked her mother-in-law , and felt it was as well to be on affectionate terms with her . `` No , my dear ; my head is not quite free from pain , and I want to give Katherine something to eat when she comes in ; she will be very hungry .