five o'clock
Curiosity had taken him within , shown him an outer and an inner room , and , in the second , a sight that had given him laughter ; for he discovered there sundry empty bottles labelled `` Old Tom , '' a glass , an envelope addressed to Mrs. Major . It was clear that in this deserted place -- somehow chanced upon -- the masterly woman had been wont , safe from disturbance , to meet the rascal who , taken to Herons ' Holt on that famous night , had so villainously laid her by the heels . Nothing more George had thought of the place until the morning of this day when , leaving for hospital , his Mary had effected a brief whispered moment to tell him that Mr. Marrapit had thought her looking pale , had told her to take a long walk that afternoon . Immediately George gave her directions for the hut ; there he would meet her at five o'clock ; there not the most prying eye could reach them . Now he approached noiselessly ; saw his pretty Mary , back towards him , just within the threshold of the open door . It was their first secluded meeting since she had come to Herons ' Holt . Upon tip-toe George squirmed up to her ; hissed `` I have thee , girl '' ; sprang on his terrified Mary ; hugged her to him .