seven o’clock
`` But we ought not to talk of them any more , Flora ; here we are almost at the churchyard . '' The Tuesday of this week was appointed for the visit of the London surgeon , Sir Matthew Fleet , and the expectation caused Dr. May to talk much to Margaret of old times , and the days of his courtship , when it had been his favourite project that his friend and fellow-student should marry Flora Mackenzie , and there had been a promising degree of liking , but `` Mat '' had been obliged to be prudent , and had ended by never marrying at all . This the doctor , as well as his daughters , believed was for the sake of Aunt Flora , and thus the girls were a good deal excited about his coming , almost as much on his own account , as because they considered him as the arbiter of Margaret 's fate . He only came in time for a seven o'clock dinner , and Margaret did not see him that night , but heard enough from her sisters , when they came up to tell the history of their guest , and of the first set dinner when Flora had acted as lady of the house . The dinner it appeared had gone off very well . Flora had managed admirably , and the only mishap was some awkward carving of Ethel 's which had caused the dish to be changed with Norman . As to the guest , Flora said he was very good-looking and agreeable .