eight o'clock
I have no doubt that his desire to retrieve what he had lost was rendered the more intense by his grief for his young wife , and became like the madness of a gamester . I was there , as I have mentioned , at all hours . When I was there at night , I generally went home with Charley in a coach ; sometimes my guardian would meet me in the neighbourhood , and we would walk home together . One evening he had arranged to meet me at eight o'clock . I could not leave , as I usually did , quite punctually at the time , for I was working for my dear girl and had a few stitches more to do to finish what I was about ; but it was within a few minutes of the hour when I bundled up my little work-basket , gave my darling my last kiss for the night , and hurried downstairs . Mr. Woodcourt went with me , as it was dusk . When we came to the usual place of meeting -- it was close by , and Mr. Woodcourt had often accompanied me before -- my guardian was not there .