three o'clock
At lunch she was especially civil , -- civil to the extent of picking out herself for Clara , with her own fork , the breast of a hashed fowl from a dish that was before her . This she did with considerable care , -- I may say , with a show of care ; and then , though she did not absolutely call Clara by her Christian name , she did call her `` my dear . '' Clara saw it all , and felt that the usual placidity of the afternoon would be broken by some special event . At three o'clock , when the carriage as usual came to the door , Belinda was out of the way , and Clara was made to understand that she and Lady Aylmer were to be driven out without any other companion . `` Belinda is a little busy , my dear . So , if you do n't mind , we 'll go alone . '' Clara of course assented , and got into the carriage with a conviction that now she would hear her fate .