six o'clock
Bianca rose . Burning spots of colour had settled in her cheeks . She went towards the door , and the little model pursued her figure with a long look , cringing , mutinous , and wistful . It was past six o'clock when Hilary at length reached home , preceded a little by Miranda , who almost felt within her the desire to eat . The lilac bushes , not yet in flower , were giving forth spicy fragrance . The sun still netted their top boughs , as with golden silk , and a blackbird , seated on a low branch of the acacia-tree , was summoning the evening . Mr. Stone , accompanied by the little model , dressed in her new clothes , was coming down the path .