five
o'clock
There was some jargon we learned at school about the angle of incidence being equal to that of reflection . You see , my dearly beloved self , '' nodding with returning sauciness at her image in the mirror before which she was combing her hair , `` I undertake this business in the spirit of philosophical investigation . '' She needed to keep her courage up by these and the like whimsical conceits , when the forenoon of the next day passed away without a glimpse of Mr. Chilton . He had not yet left his card for the Masons , nor called to inquire after her health , when the summons sounded to the five o'clock dinner . A horrible apprehension seized and devoured her heart by the time the dessert was brought on , and there were no signs of his appearance . He had , ashamed to meet her after last night 's exposure of his weakness , or dreading the power of the reminiscences the sight of her would awaken , left the city without coming to say `` Farewell . '' That is , she had driven him from her forever !