about five o'clock
Jane had preserved her sang-froid , but the words remained with her , for she was one of those who ponder and retain in silence . She thought almost exclusively of Mr. Parcher until breakfast-time , and resumed her thinking of him at intervals during the morning . Then , in the afternoon , a series of quiet events not unconnected with William 's passion caused her to think of Mr. Parcher more poignantly than ever ; nor was her mind diverted to a different channel by another confidential conversation with her mother . Who can say , then , that it was not by design that she came face to face with Mr. Parcher on the public highway at about five o'clock that afternoon ? Everything urges the belief that she deliberately set herself in his path . Mr. Parcher was walking home from his office , and he walked slowly , gulping from time to time , as he thought of the inevitable evening before him . His was not a rugged constitution , and for the last fortnight or so he had feared that it was giving way altogether .