three o'clock
He had no idea of the route by which he had been driven , and it was only after looking for some time at the houses about him that he discovered where he was , for he felt as perplexed and confused as though he had been voyaging through the air in a balloon . Slowly he recognized his surroundings -- he was close upon the confines of Victoria Park . Not a sound broke the silence , not a form was visible , the dawn was brightening rosily in the east . He drew out his watch ; it was just three o'clock on Sunday morning . It was not to be wondered at that Doctor Brudenell , coming down to breakfast at the usual time some five hours later , should have looked what Mrs. Jessop called `` as pale as the very table-cloth itself , '' or that he should have but little desire either for the meal or his Sunday paper . The very children , coming in by and by to bid him good-morning before going to church , loudly expressed their astonishment in a shrill trio as to Uncle George 's funny looks , and rather rebelled at the unusually curt greeting and dismissal which he gave them . Even the governess 's eyes opened a little wider as she looked at him , but she gave him her hand with her usual shadowy smile , and expressed no interest or surprise .