About four o'clock
This , however , was of course impossible . Strange though it might seem , he -- the most unsuitable of all men in his own eyes -- was the man singled out to bear this message , to go to the death-visited household . He went about his afternoon work in a sort of steady , mechanical manner , the outward veil of his inward agitation . About four o'clock he was free to go to Guilford Terrace . He was shown into the little sitting room ; it was the room in which Mrs. Raeburn had died , and the mere sight of the outer surroundings , the well-worn furniture , the book-lined walls made the whole scene vividly present to him . The room was empty , there was a blazing fire but no other light , for the blinds were down , and even the winter twilight shut out . Brian sat down and waited .