six o’clock
Catherine shook her head slowly . `` I do n't believe it ! '' and she left the room . THOUGH she had forced herself to be calm , she preferred practising this virtue in private , and she forbore to show herself at tea -- a repast which , on Sundays , at six o'clock , took the place of dinner . Dr. Sloper and his sister sat face to face , but Mrs. Penniman never met her brother 's eye . Late in the evening she went with him , but without Catherine , to their sister Almond 's , where , between the two ladies , Catherine 's unhappy situation was discussed with a frankness that was conditioned by a good deal of mysterious reticence on Mrs. Penniman 's part . `` I am delighted he is not to marry her , '' said Mrs. Almond , `` but he ought to be horsewhipped all the same . ''