four o'clock
Tell Mrs Hilliard with my love that I shall be charmed to see her this afternoon ! '' Miss Munns was greatly excited to hear of the expected visit , and busied herself taking the holland covers off the drawing-room chairs , and displaying the best antimacassars in the most advantageous position . Sylvia longed to introduce a little disorder into the painful severity of the room , but it would have distressed her aunt if she had moved a chair out of the straight , or confiscated one of the books which were ranged at equal distances round the rosewood table , and , as it was one of her resolves not to interfere with domestic arrangements , she shrugged her shoulders resignedly , and hoped that Esmeralda might be as unnoticing of her surroundings as were her brothers and sisters . At four o'clock a carriage drove up to the door , and Esmeralda alighted , clad from head to foot in black , as Sylvia noticed at the first quick glance . She was waiting in the little drawing-room , and scarcely was the door opened when the tall figure was at her side , and her hands were crushed with affectionate fervour . She looked up , and was startled by the beauty of the face above her , startled as even Esmeralda 's brothers and sisters were at times , when as now the grey eyes were misty with tears , and the lips all sweet and tremulous . `` If I 'd known -- if I 'd had the slightest idea he was ill , I would rather have killed myself than have behaved as I did !