four o'clock
`` Is this altogether liberal to Bulstrode , Miss Anneke , '' I ventured to put in ; `` he seems to like us , and I am sure he has good reason so to do . That he likes _ some _ of us , is too apparent to be concealed or denied . '' `` Mr. Bulstrode is a skilful actor , as all who saw his Cato must be aware , '' retorted the charming girl , compressing her pouting lips in a way that seemed to me to be inexpressibly pleasing ; `` and those who saw his Scrub must be equally convinced of the versatility of his talents . No , no ; Major Bulstrode is better where he is , or will be to-day , at four o'clock -- at the head of the mess of the -- th , instead of dining in a snug Dutch parlour , with my cousin , worthy Mrs. van der Heyden , at a dinner got up with colony hospitality , and colony good-will , and colony plainness . The entertainment we shall receive to-day , sweetened , as it will be , by the welcome which will come from the heart , can have no competitor in countries where a messenger must be sent two days before the visit , to ask permission to come , in order to escape cold looks and artificial surprise . I would prefer surprising my friends from the heart , instead of from the head . '' Guert expressed his astonishment that any one should not always be glad and willing to receive his friends ; and insisted on it , that no such inhospitable customs _ could _ exist .