two o’clock
Aratov rose hurriedly from his seat , thanked her for her offer , said he should be sure ... oh , very sure ! -- to come -- and went off , carrying away with him an impression of a soft voice , gentle and sorrowful eyes , and burning in the tortures of expectation . Aratov went back the same day to the Milovidovs and spent three whole hours in conversation with Anna Semyonovna . Madame Milovidov was in the habit of lying down directly after dinner -- at two o'clock -- and resting till evening tea at seven . Aratov 's talk with Clara 's sister was not exactly a conversation ; she did almost all the talking , at first with hesitation , with embarrassment , then with a warmth that refused to be stifled . It was obvious that she had adored her sister . The confidence Aratov had inspired in her grew and strengthened ; she was no longer stiff ; twice she even dropped a few silent tears before him .