eleven o'clock at
night
Annesley clutched the banisters in the sudden weakness of a great revulsion from panic to relief . She might have known that _ he _ would somehow rescue her , even from her own blundering . The shamed red which had stained Annesley 's cheeks at Ruthven Smith 's contempt died away . Her `` lover '' -- he was openly that now -- had miraculously made his presence in the other Smith 's room , after eleven o'clock at night in this early bed-going household , the most natural thing in the world . At least , Ruthven Smith 's almost apologetic tone in answering proved that he had been persuaded to think it so . With Mrs. Ellsworth , however , it would be different . There would lie the stumbling-block ; but with all danger from the Browning ended , the girl was in no mood to borrow trouble for the future , even a future already rushing into the arms of the present .