three o'clock
If you will excuse me I will return to Mrs. Eggleston ; she is an invalid , as you have no doubt heard , and I spend the morning hour with her . I must ask you to excuse me , sir . '' * * * * * On his return to his studio Gregg began to pace the floor , his habit when anything worried him . Phil was to return at three o'clock and he had nothing but bad news for him . That his visit had only made matters worse was too evident . Never in all his life had he been treated with such discourtesy . Eggleston was a vulgarian and a brute , but he was Madeleine 's father , and he could not encourage her to defy him .