about four o'clock in the afternoon
`` Come back again , '' she had cried . In Chichester he found a little green-bound REPUBLIC in a second-hand book-shop near the Cathedral , but there was no copy of the LAWS to be found in the place . Then he was taken with the brilliant idea of sleeping the night in Chichester and going back next day via Harting to Petersfield station and London . He carried out this scheme and got to South Harting neatly about four o'clock in the afternoon . He found Mrs. Wilder and Mrs. Morris and Amanda and the dogs entertaining Mr. Rathbone-Sanders at tea , and they all seemed a little surprised , and , except Mr. Rathbone-Sanders , they all seemed pleased to see him again so soon . His explanation of why he had n't gone back to London from Chichester struck him as a little unconvincing in the cold light of Mr. Rathbone-Sanders ' eye . But Amanda was manifestly excited by his return , and he told them his impressions of Chichester and described the entertainment of the evening guest at a country inn and suddenly produced his copy of the REPUBLIC .