nine o'clock exactly on
Thursday
There was a strange , fierce light in his bright blue eyes , which the child-woman did not see , and which , if she had perceived , she would not have understood any more than he understood it himself -- for no concrete thought had yet come to him about the future . Only , there underneath was that mighty force , relentless , inexorable , of heredity , causing the instinct which had dominated the Arranstouns for eleven hundred years . He did not seek to detain his guest and promised bride -- but , with great courtesy , he showed her the way down the stairs of the lawn , and so through the postern into the park , and he watched her slender form trip off towards the gate which was opposite the Inn , her last words ringing in his ears in answer to his final question . `` No , I shall not fail -- I will leave the Crown at nine o'clock exactly on Thursday . '' Then turning , he retraced his steps to his sitting-room , and there found Henry Fordyce returned . `` Well , old boy ! '' Mr. Fordyce greeted him with .