six o'clock
At this stage of his critical distraction , his friend rose and shook hands with Madame d'Alberg , then advanced to make his adieux to Honor . This necessitated Vivian 's doing so likewise , and if ever Vivian Standish 's hand clasped another 's emphatically , it did on this occasion . He just gathered the soft white fingers of this strange haughty girl within his own , and held them for an instant in that trusting longing way that had done him good service many a time before , then he laid them quietly away , with a look of eloquent pleading in his eyes and a simple `` Good-bye '' on his handsome lips . It was six o'clock at last . The gas was lit , the curtains drawn , and the familiar and just now welcome sound of dishes was coming from the dining-room across the hall . Mr. Rayne was expected every minute , and Mrs. d'Alberg and Honor were loitering the moments of waiting around the drawing-room . `` Well , aunt Jean , '' said Honor , lazily placing her hand on the back of the arm-chair in which the lady addressed was seated , -LRB- she had chosen to call her `` aunt '' since she was to appear in society as her charge -RRB- , `` what do you propose doing to-night ?