six o’clock
And when Lucy came into the room again , they were once more unconstrained ; Maggie could contradict Stephen , and laugh at him , and he could recommend to her consideration the example of that most charming heroine , Miss Sophia Western , who had a great `` respect for the understandings of men . '' Maggie could look at Stephen , which , for some reason or other she always avoided when they were alone ; and he could even ask her to play his accompaniment for him , since Lucy 's fingers were so busy with that bazaar-work , and lecture her on hurrying the tempo , which was certainly Maggie 's weak point . One day -- it was the day of Philip 's return -- Lucy had formed a sudden engagement to spend the evening with Mrs Kenn , whose delicate state of health , threatening to become confirmed illness through an attack of bronchitis , obliged her to resign her functions at the coming bazaar into the hands of other ladies , of whom she wished Lucy to be one . The engagement had been formed in Stephen 's presence , and he had heard Lucy promise to dine early and call at six o'clock for Miss Torry , who brought Mrs Kenn 's request . `` Here is another of the moral results of this idiotic bazaar , '' Stephen burst forth , as soon as Miss Torry had left the room , -- `` taking young ladies from the duties of the domestic hearth into scenes of dissipation among urn-rugs and embroidered reticules ! I should like to know what is the proper function of women , if it is not to make reasons for husbands to stay at home , and still stronger reasons for bachelors to go out . If this goes on much longer , the bonds of society will be dissolved . ''