about five in the evening
During the days he had left the two women much together , and had remained in his study or had wandered forth alone . In this way he had increased his wife 's feeling of anger against her visitor , and had made her look forward to her departure with increasing impatience . But an event happened which had at once disturbed all her plans . She was sitting in the drawing-room with Miss Altifiorla at about five in the evening , discussing in a most disagreeable manner the secrecy of her first engagement . That is to say , Miss Altifiorla was persisting in the discussion , whereas Mrs. Western was positively refusing to make it a subject of conversation . `` I think you are demanding too much from me , '' said Miss Altifiorla . `` I have given way , I am afraid wrongly as to your husband .