six o'clock
The end of it was that every one in and about the house went to Aussolas on the following Wednesday , including Mrs. Cadogan . Philippa had gone over to stay at the Shutes , ostensibly to arrange about a jumble sale , the real object being -LRB- as a matter of history -RRB- to inspect the Scotch young lady before whom Bernard Shute had dumped his affections in his customary manner . Being alone , with every prospect of a bad dinner , I accepted with gratitude an invitation to dine and sleep at Aussolas and see the dance ; it is only on very special occasions that I have the heart to remind Philippa that she had neither part nor lot in what occurred -- it is too serious a matter for trivial gloryings . Mrs. Knox had asked me to dine at six o'clock , which meant that I arrived , in blazing sunlight and evening clothes , punctually at that hour , and that at seven o'clock I was still sitting in the library , reading heavily-bound classics , while my hostess held loud conversations down staircases with Denis O'Loughlin , the red-bearded Robinson Crusoe who combined in himself the offices of coachman , butler , and , to the best of my belief , valet to the lady of the house . The door opened at last , and Denis , looking as furtive as his prototype after he had sighted the footprint , put in his head and beckoned to me . `` The misthress says will ye go to dinner without her , '' he said very confidentially ; `` sure she 's greatly vexed ye should be waitin ' on her . 'T was the kitchen chimney cot fire , and faith she 's afther giving Biddy Mahony the sack , on the head of it !