four o'clock
And there was always the other great dread -- of himself becoming dimmed and forever ray-shorn in her eyes . `` I wish you could have stayed , '' said Dorothea , with a touch of mournfulness , as she rose and put out her hand . She also had her thought which she did not like to express : -- Will certainly ought to lose no time in consulting Mr. Casaubon 's wishes , but for her to urge this might seem an undue dictation . So they only said `` Good-by , '' and Will quitted the house , striking across the fields so as not to run any risk of encountering Mr. Casaubon 's carriage , which , however , did not appear at the gate until four o'clock . That was an unpropitious hour for coming home : it was too early to gain the moral support under ennui of dressing his person for dinner , and too late to undress his mind of the day 's frivolous ceremony and affairs , so as to be prepared for a good plunge into the serious business of study . On such occasions he usually threw into an easy-chair in the library , and allowed Dorothea to read the London papers to him , closing his eyes the while . To-day , however , he declined that relief , observing that he had already had too many public details urged upon him ; but he spoke more cheerfully than usual , when Dorothea asked about his fatigue , and added with that air of formal effort which never forsook him even when he spoke without his waistcoat and cravat -- `` I have had the gratification of meeting my former acquaintance , Dr. Spanning , to-day , and of being praised by one who is himself a worthy recipient of praise .