six o'clock
He had seen Elizabeth again , had at least retained his outward calmness , and now he felt more sure of himself . `` The pains and penalties of life , '' Leah had said to him once , and he had thought the expression a strange one on the lips of so beautiful a woman ; but he knew better now , and how such pains and penalties fall to the share of many men . `` It is all in the day 's work , '' he muttered as he rang the bell , for it was Malcolm 's nature to philosophise even in trouble . It was only six o'clock , and the two sisters were sitting together in the fire-lit twilight . Dinah was lying back in her easy-chair with her eyes closed , but Elizabeth had drawn her chair opposite the fire , and sat with her chin supported by her hands , gazing fixedly at the blazing logs with an absorbed gravity that again surprised Malcolm . When they heard the visitor announced they both started to their feet and came towards him , but it was Elizabeth who spoke first . `` Mr. Herrick , this is too good of you .