Two o'clock
It would only be reasonable , and was taken for granted . And now , as it seemed , her father and brother had made up their minds to exercise pressure -- so little would be needed -- to turn out the poor old ladies , not for the sake of those who might have a claim on their consideration , but for strangers who would pay handsomely and would be nice people to have about the place . Cicely burned with anger as she thought of it . * * * * * Two o'clock struck from the clock in the stable turret . Cicely opened her door softly , crept along the corridor and through a baize door leading to a staircase away from the bedrooms of the house . At the foot of it was a door opening into the garden , which she was prepared to unlock and unbolt with infinite care to avoid noise . But the carelessness of a servant had destroyed the need of such caution .