six o'clock
She could not but observe that the abundance of the dinner did not seem to create the smallest astonishment in the general ; nay , that he was even looking at the side-table for cold meat which was not there . His son and daughter 's observations were of a different kind . They had seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his own , and never before known him so little disconcerted by the melted butter 's being oiled . At six o'clock , the general having taken his coffee , the carriage again received them ; and so gratifying had been the tenor of his conduct throughout the whole visit , so well assured was her mind on the subject of his expectations , that , could she have felt equally confident of the wishes of his son , Catherine would have quitted Woodston with little anxiety as to the How or the When she might return to it . The next morning brought the following very unexpected letter from Isabella : Bath , April My dearest Catherine , I received your two kind letters with the greatest delight , and have a thousand apologies to make for not answering them sooner . I really am quite ashamed of my idleness ; but in this horrid place one can find time for nothing . I have had my pen in my hand to begin a letter to you almost every day since you left Bath , but have always been prevented by some silly trifler or other .