about ten o’clock
Natalya did not understand at all , and could only gaze after him . Before tea Rudin went up to her , and bending over the table as though he were examining the papers , whispered : ` It is all like a dream , is n't it ? I absolutely must see you alone -- if only for a minute . ' He turned to Mlle , Boncourt ` Here , ' he said to her , ` this is the article you were looking for , ' and again bending towards Natalya , he added in a whisper , ` Try to be near the terrace in the lilac arbour about ten o'clock ; I will wait for you . ' Pigasov was the hero of the evening . Rudin left him in possession of the field . He afforded Darya Mihailovna much entertainment ; first he told a story of one of his neighbours who , having been henpecked by his wife for thirty years , had grown so womanish that one day in crossing a little puddle when Pigasov was present , he put out his hand and picked up the skirt of his coat , as women do with their petticoats .