five o'clock
Mary MacLean declared afterwards that she had a presentiment when she heard it , but then the poor girl had been rather troubled with presentiments lately . When she opened the front door she saw a particularly polite and agreeable looking gentleman adorned with that unmistakeable mark of fashion , a single eyeglass ; and the gentleman saw a pleasant looking but evidently high strung and nervous young woman . `` Is Mr. Simon Rattar at home ? '' he enquired in a courteous voice and with a soothing smile that won her heart at once ; and on hearing that Mr. Rattar always spent the afternoons at his office and would not return before five o'clock , his disappointment was so manifest that she felt sincerely sorry for him . He hesitated and was about to go away when a happy idea struck him . `` Might I come in and write a line to be left for him ? '' he asked , and Mary felt greatly relieved at being able to assist the gentleman to assuage his disappointment in this way .