eleven o’clock
A week or two previously a certain statesman had written to the same effect in reply to calumnious statements , and Richard consciously made that letter his model . The statesman had probably been sounder in his syntax , but his imitator had , no doubt , the advantage in other points . Richard perused his composition several times , and sent it to the post . At eleven o'clock Mrs. Mutimer descended to the hall , ready for her journey . She would not enter any room . Her eldest son came out to meet her , and got rid of the servant who had fetched a cab . ` Good-bye for the present , mother , ' he said , giving his hand ` I hope you 'll find everything just as you wish it . '