eight o'clock
She turned from the window , came towards the steps . At the top of them , she saw Varney standing at the gate , not twenty yards away , and stopped dead . Then she came on down the stairs , down the graveled walk towards him . `` I 'm going away at eight o'clock , '' he began without greeting , striving to make his voice casual . `` I went to your house first -- and -- '' `` You -- followed me here ? '' `` Yes , '' he said , unsmiling . `` I had to see you before I went -- on matters of business -- and -- '' She was nearer to him now : for the first time he could see her eyes .