six o'clock
Laughing , Monica at length agreed to come if circumstances were favourable . Her talk with Bevis continued for a long time , until people had begun to leave . Some other acquaintance then claimed her , but she was now dull and monosyllabic , as if conversation had exhausted her energies . At six o'clock she stole away unobserved , and went home . Widdowson had resigned himself , in appearance at all events , to these absences . It was several weeks since he had accompanied his wife to call upon any one ; a sluggishness was creeping over him , strengthening his disinclination for society . The futile endeavour to act with decision , to carry Monica away into Somerset , resulted , as futile efforts of that kind are wont to do , in increased feebleness of the will ; he was less capable than ever of exerting the authority which he still believed himself to keep for the last resort .