eight o'clock
Nuttie descended to explain , and whereas the need was not very urgent , and she looked distressed and angered at the valet , her father received her complaint with , ` Well , the boy is getting too big to be tied for ever to a nursery-maid . It will do him good to go about with a man . ' But as dressing-time came on , and still neither Gregorio nor Alwyn appeared , Mr. Egremont became impatient , and declared that the valet had no business to keep the child out so long ; indeed , he would sooner have taken alarm but for Nuttie 's manifest agony of anxiety , starting and rushing to listen at every ring at the bell or sound of wheels near at hand . At last , at eight o'clock , there was a peal of the servants ' bell , and the footman who answered it turned round to the anxious crowd : ` Mr. Gregory ! He just asked if the child was come home , and went off like lightning . ' ` The villain ! He 's lost him ! '