six o’clock
He came home through the village at about half-past three o'clock , sending the keeper to leave some of his game at the parsonage , while he went himself to see how the work was getting on at the school . Mr. and Mrs. Ashford and the boys were come on the same errand , in spite of the cloud of dust rising from the newly-demolished lath-and-plaster partition . The boys looked with longing eyes at the gun in his hand , and the half-frozen compound of black and red mud on his gaiters ; but they were shy , and their enmity added to their shyness , so that even when he shook hands with them , and spoke good-naturedly , they did not get beyond a monosyllable . Mr. and Mrs. Ashford , feeling some compunction for having left him to his solitude so long , asked him to dinner for one of the ensuing days , with some idea of getting some one to meet him , and named six o'clock . ` Wo n't that put you out ? Do n't you always dine early ? ' said he .