about two A.M.
The sameness of his anti-theological work , and the barrenness of mere down-pulling , were distasteful enough to him ; he was often heartily sick of it all , and had he not thought it a positive duty to attack what he deemed a very mischievous delusion , he would gladly have handed over this part of his work to some one else , and devoted himself entirely to national work . He had been away from home for several days , lecturing in the north of England . Erica was not expecting his return till the following day , when one evening a telegram was brought in to her . It was from her father to this effect : `` Expect me home by mail train about two A.M. Place too hot to hold me . '' He had now to a great extent lived down the opposition which had made lecturing in his younger days a matter of no small risk to life and limb ; but Erica knew that there were reasons which made the people of Ashborough particularly angry with him just now . Ashborough was one of those strange towns which can never be depended upon . It was renowned for its riots , and was , in fact -LRB- to use a slang word -RRB- a `` rowdy '' place .