four
o'clock in the afternoon
`` I have just come down . '' As usual the day 's pleasure was all prearranged . A groom rode to the station at Christian 's request with a large envelope on which was printed Mr. Bodery 's name and address . This was to be given to the guard , who would in his turn hand it to a special messenger at Paddington , and the editor of the _ Beacon _ would receive it by four o'clock in the afternoon . The day was fine , with a fresh breeze , and the programme of pleasure was satisfactorily carried out . But with sunset the wind freshened into a brisk gale , and heavy clouds rolled upwards from the western horizon . This was the first suggestion of autumn , the first sigh of dying summer .