about ten o'clock at night
She would suffer , but she would get over it ; and Oliver would probably die . Sooner or later she would begin life afresh , if only he was able to stand between her and the madness in her heart . But as he sat there , looking at Lady Lucy , he realized that it might have been better for his powers and efficacy as a counsellor if he , too , had held aloof from this house of pain . It was about ten o'clock at night . Lankester , who had arrived from London an hour before , had said good-night to Lady Lucy and Sir James , and had slipped into Marsham 's room . Marsham had barred his door that evening against both his mother and Sir James . But Lankester was not excluded .