nearly six o'clock
Hilary , with the strain of hardness and self-seeking which would ruin her disposition unless it were checked in time ; beautiful Lettice , longing for love and admiration , and so fatally susceptible to a few flattering words ; Norah , with her exceptional talents , and daring , fearless spirit -- how was he to manage them all during the most critical years of their lives ? `` I must speak to Helen Carr . Helen Carr will help me , '' he said to himself , and sighed with relief at the thought of sharing his burden with the kind - hearted friend of his youth . It was nearly six o'clock when the travellers drove up to the door of the white house in Kensington , and Miss Carr came into the hall to meet them , looking far less altered by the lapse of years than did her young visitor , who had developed from a delicate schoolgirl into a self - possessed young lady of seventeen . `` And this is Hilary . Tut , tut ! what do you mean by growing up in this ridiculous manner , child ? ''