nearly five o'clock
` And you give me credit for understanding myself , for being as much master of my mind as I am of my actions ? ' ` Surely I do , Mr. Athel . ' ` You are going to the house ? It is nearly five o'clock ; your conscience tells you that a civilised being must drink tea . I think I shall walk over to Greenhaws ; I may as well save Mrs. Winter the trouble of bringing back the children . ' He hesitated before moving away . ` How little that cloud has changed its form !