six o'clock
When he reached the vicarage Mr. Stafford had gone out after an early lunch to take a wedding in Countisford , while Val had been obliged to ride over to a neighbouring farm . Leaving Laura to Isabel , who startled him by her cool `` So Major Clowes has done it at last ? '' he hurried down to the post office to telephone to Selincourt -LRB- aware on his way that every eye was staring at him : no doubt the tale was already on every lip -RRB- , but Selincourt too was out , and he had to be content with despatching colourless duplicate telegrams to his rooms and club . From a hint let fall during the night he was aware that no more than the most laconic wire would be needed , but he fretted under the delay , which meant that Selincourt could not arrive before six o'clock . After that he would have liked to go to Wharton , but dared not , for , though Jack 's grandfather was what Yvonne called a Romantic , the Grantchesters were old-fashioned straightlaced people who had better not hear of the scandal till it was over . No , till Selincourt and Val appeared there was no more to be done , and Lawrence , returned to the vicarage and flung himself into a chair to wait . He dreaded inaction : inaction meant thought : and thought meant such bitter realities as he knew not how to stand up against : but what he liked or disliked was no longer to the point .