midnight
There was a dreary dinner at Clavering Park , at which the lately installed butler did not attend ; and the ladies were both absent . After dinner , Pen said , `` I will walk down to Clavering and see if he is come . '' And he walked through the dark avenue , across the bridge and road by his own cottage -- the once quiet and familiar fields of which were flaming with the kilns and forges of the artificers employed on the new railroad works ; and so he entered the town , and made for the Clavering Arms . It was past midnight when he returned to Clavering Park . He was exceedingly pale and agitated . `` Is Lady Clavering up yet ? '' he asked .