About seven o'clock
` Very sorry , girls . Tell James to put the horse in , sharp as he can . In ten minutes Dr. Madden was driving at full speed , alone in his dog-cart , towards the scene of duty . About seven o'clock Rhoda Nunn took leave , remarking with her usual directness , that before going home she would walk along the sea-front in the hope of a meeting with Mr. Smithson and his daughter . Mrs. Nunn was not well enough to leave the house to-day ; but , said Rhoda , the invalid preferred being left alone at such times . ` Are you sure she prefers it ? ' Alice ventured to ask .