five o'clock in the afternoon
At these times there was an air of most complete and confidential understanding between the two , which did not include the outside world , and there was something weird about it which might well affect the nerves of the lady on trial . At any rate , though few other things changed much at Paradise Court , the companions were always coming and going , and shortly before Iris 's visit a new one had arrived . Her name was Miss Munnion . Iris reached Paradise Court at five o'clock in the afternoon , after a long and dusty journey . The old sober grey house looked very peaceful and quiet , but all round trees and shrubs and flowers waved their little green hands and seemed to dance rejoicing in their new spring dresses . For it was May time , and the weather , which had hitherto been cold and wet , had suddenly changed , sunshine streamed over the country , and the air was as warm as summer . Everything smelt so sweet , and looked so luxuriant and gay , that Iris felt quite confused and giddy as she stood waiting for the door to be opened ; her winter frock and jacket seemed hot and stuffy , and the scent of the great lilac bushes and syringas and hawthorns wrapped her heavily round in a sort of dream .