nearly four o'clock in the afternoon
But she promised to do her best with her mistress , -- and kept her promise . It is seldom that servants are not good in such straits as that . From Mrs. Broughton 's house Dalrymple went directly to Mrs. Van Siever 's , and learned that Musselboro had been there about half an hour before , and had then gone off in a cab with Mrs. Van Siever . It was now nearly four o'clock in the afternoon , and no one in the house knew when Mrs. Van Siever would be back . Miss Van Siever was out , and had been out when Mr. Musselboro had called , but was expected in every minute . Conway therefore said that he would call again , and on returning found Clara alone . She had not then heard a word of the fate of Dobbs Broughton .