five
o’clock
It was the evening of his own dinner engagement at Mrs. Jefferson 's but that he must give up . Telling Barbara to dispatch Richard to his office as soon as he should make his appearance at the grove , and to urge him to come boldly and not fear , for none would know him in his disguise , he wrote a hurried note to Thorn , requesting him also to be at his office at eight o'clock that evening , as he had something to communicate to him . The latter plea was no fiction , for he had received an important communication that morning relative to the business on which Captain Thorn had consulted him , and his own absence from the office in the day had alone prevented his sending for him earlier . Other matters were calling the attention of Mr. Carlyle , and it was five o'clock ere he departed for East Lynne ; he would not have gone so early , but that he must inform his wife of his inability to keep his dinner engagement . Mr. Carlyle was one who never hesitated to sacrifice personal gratification to friendship or to business . The chariot was at the door , and Lady Isabel dressed and waiting for him in her dressing-room . `` Did you forget that the Jeffersons dined at six ? ''