four
o'clock
`` I wonder if he 'll be back by Wednesday . '' Wednesday , the last day in January , came , but Rowcliffe did not come . The strange man took his place in the surgery . Mrs. Gale brought the news into the Vicarage dining-room at four o'clock . She had taken her daughter 's place for the time being . She was a just woman and she bore no grudge against the Vicar on Essy 's account . He had done no more than he was obliged to do .