about nine o'clock
In her reply she again postponed their meeting . Whenever she went out in the evening , it was with expectation of seeing him somewhere in the neighbourhood ; she felt assured that he had long ago come to look at the house , and more likely than not his eyes had several times been upon her . That did not matter ; her life was innocent , and Widdowson might watch her coming and going as much as he would . At length , about nine o'clock one evening , she came face to face with him . It was in Hampstead Road ; she had been buying at a draper 's , and carried the little parcel . At the moment of recognition , Widdowson 's face so flushed and brightened that Monica could not help a sympathetic feeling of pleasure . ` Why are you so cruel to me ? '