About three o'clock
Indeed , the mere difficulty of getting through the afternoon advised this project . He could not employ himself , and knew that his imagination , once inflamed , would leave him not a moment 's rest . Yes , he would walk to Lavender Hill , and ramble about that region until Monica had had reasonable time for talk with her sister . About three o'clock there fell a heavy shower of rain . Strangely against his habits , Widdowson turned into a quiet public-house , and sat for a quarter of an hour at the bar , drinking a glass of whisky . During the past week he had taken considerably more wine than usual at meals ; he seemed to need the support . Whilst sipping at his glass of spirits , he oddly enough fell into talk with the barmaid , a young woman of some charms , and what appeared to be unaffected modesty .