ten o'clock precisely
Meredith had never succeeded in arousing the slightest passion within her . He had been merely a plaything -- a simpering , compliment-throwing nincompoop of a type that most society women felt a need for , as food for their vanity . She decided that the most sensible plan would be to spend the next day with her people . Jim arrived at ten o'clock precisely , in a cab , with a single bag of luggage . The footman , who had already suffered once at Jim 's hands , tremblingly vouchsafed the news that Mrs. Conlan was out . `` Where 's she gone ? '' He did n't know .