eight o’clock
shall it be ? ' Presently this humour of defiance vanished , and the members of her body became supple again , her proceedings proving that it was absolutely necessary to give way , Aldclyffe as she was . She wrote a short answer to Mrs. Manston , saying civilly that Mr. Manston 's possession of such a near relation was a fact quite new to herself , and that she would see what could be done in such an unfortunate affair . Manston received a message the next day requesting his attendance at the House punctually at eight o'clock the ensuing evening . Miss Aldclyffe was brave and imperious , but with the purpose she had in view she could not look him in the face whilst daylight shone upon her . The steward was shown into the library . On entering it , he was immediately struck with the unusual gloom which pervaded the apartment .