About ten o'clock
Eustacia returned to the house . Supper having been got over she retired early , and sat in her bedroom waiting for the time to go by . The night being dark and threatening , Captain Vye had not strolled out to gossip in any cottage or to call at the inn , as was sometimes his custom on these long autumn nights ; and he sat sipping grog alone downstairs . About ten o'clock there was a knock at the door . When the servant opened it the rays of the candle fell upon the form of Fairway . `` I was a-forced to go to Lower Mistover tonight , '' he said , `` and Mr. Yeobright asked me to leave this here on my way ; but , faith , I put it in the lining of my hat , and thought no more about it till I got back and was hasping my gate before going to bed . So I have run back with it at once . ''