five in the afternoon
The laugh sounded a trifle hollow , but still it was a laugh , and that in itself was a triumph of which none but himself might ever measure the extent . Because in that moment he decided to lay the whole case before her the next time that he went to town , and the coming to a resolution was a relief from the uncertainty that clouded his days and nights -- even if a further black curtain of darkest doubt hung before the possibilities of what her answer might be . It was on a Saturday about the middle of May that Jack came to town , his mind well braced with love and arguments , and his main thoughts being that when he returned something would be settled . It was a beautiful day , warm and sunny , and at five in the afternoon both of the drawing-room windows of Mrs. Rosscott 's house were wide open , and the lace curtains were taking the breeze like little sails . Just as Jack mounted the steps , the door opened , and a plainly dressed , unattractive-looking man was let out . The servant who did the letting out saw Jack and let him in without closing the door between the egress of the one and the ingress of the other . So he entered without ringing , and , as he was very well known and intensely popular with all of Mrs. Rosscott 's servants , the man invited him to walk up unannounced , since he himself was just `` bringing in the tea . ''