six o'clock
`` Yes , I think I agree with you about that ! '' `` There 's only one thing to do with such a person , '' she said vehemently . `` That 's to put him out of our thoughts forever -- forever ! '' And yet , the next day , at six o'clock , which was the hour , Fanny had told her , when George and his mother were to leave upon their long journey , Lucy touched that scorched place on her mantel with her hand just as the little clock above it struck . Then , after this odd , unconscious gesture , she went to a window and stood between the curtains , looking out into the cold November dusk ; and in spite of every reasoning and reasonable power within her , a pain of loneliness struck through her heart . The dim street below her window , the dark houses across the way , the vague air itself -- all looked empty , and cold and -LRB- most of all -RRB- uninteresting . Something more sombre than November dusk took the colour from them and gave them that air of desertion .