ten
o'clock
* * * * * Forty-eight hours later he is in the presence of the woman who had promised to be his wife . The evening has seemed somewhat long . She was out when he called at an earlier hour , but was to be found at a dinner-party in the neighborhood . Major Abbot feels indisposed to meet her in presence of `` society , '' and leaves word that he will return at ten o'clock . He finds her still absent and has to wait . Mr. Winthrop is at his club ; Mrs. Winthrop has begged to be excused -- she had retired early with a severe headache . She does not want to see me , thinks Abbot , and that looks as though Viva were obdurate .