six o'clock
It began to dawn upon her this might be Hector 's reason in coming , not herself at all ; and one of those slow , internal rages which she seldom indulged in began to creep in her veins . Thus it was that poor Theodora , all unconscious of any evil , was already surrounded by three bitter enemies -- Mildred , Lady Harrowfield , and Morella Winmarleigh . It did not look as though her Whitsuntide could be going to contain much joy . It was a good deal after six o'clock by now . Bridge-tables had already appeared , and most of the company had commenced to play . Barbara saw the look in Mildred 's eye as she came across , and , ignoring Theodora quite , tried to carry off Lord Wensleydown . `` You must come , Freddy , '' she said .