eight o'clock
echoed Mr. Verner . Mrs. Tynn proceeded to explain . Dolly , the dairymaid at Verner 's Pride , was ill-conducted enough -LRB- as Mrs. Tynn would tell her , for the fact did not give that ruling matron pleasure -RRB- to have a sweetheart . Worse still , Dolly was in the habit of stealing out to meet him when he left work , which was at eight o'clock . On the evening of the accident , Dolly , abandoning her dairy , and braving the wrath of Mrs. Tynn , should she be discovered , stole out to a sheltered spot in the rear of the house , the usual meeting-place . Scarcely was she ensconced here when the swain arrived ; who , it may be remarked , _ en passant _ , filled the important post of waggoner to Mr. Bitterworth . The spot was close to the small green gate which led to the lane already spoken of ; it led to that only ; and , while he and Dolly were talking and making love , after their own rustic fashion , they saw Dan Duff come from the direction of the house , and pass through the gate , whistling .