eight at night
Mrs. Scales started at the sound of the knock , and turned her head . `` Here 's Mr. and Mrs. Critchlow , m 'm , '' announced Amy . The sisters glanced at one another , with lifted foreheads . Then Mrs. Povey spoke to Amy as though visits at half-past eight at night were a customary phenomenon of the household . Nevertheless , she trembled to think what outrageous thing Mr. Critchlow might say to Sophia after thirty years ' absence . The occasion was great , and it might also be terrible . `` Ask them to come up , '' she said calmly .