five o'clock
There was a pause . `` Who was it , then , that was walking with you near the pond , about five o'clock ? '' asked Oke slowly . His wife lifted her eyes straight to his and answered contemptuously -- `` No one was walking with me near the pond , at five o'clock or any other hour . '' Mr. Oke turned purple , and made a curious hoarse noise like a man choking . `` I -- I thought I saw you walking with a man this afternoon , Alice , '' he brought out with an effort ; adding , for the sake of appearances before me , `` I thought it might have been the curate come with that report for me . '' Mrs. Oke smiled .