nine
o'clock
Monica was home again long before dinner-time . When that hour arrived her husband had not yet come ; the delay , no doubt , was somehow connected with his visit to Mr. Newdick . But this went on . At nine o'clock Monica still sat alone , hungry , yet scarce conscious of hunger owing to her miseries . Widdowson had never behaved thus . Another quarter of an hour and she heard the front door open . He came to the drawing-room , where she sat waiting .