Ten o'clock
Both mother and knitting were found by Agnes half an hour later in a state of considerable confusion . But Mrs. Leyburn kept her own counsel , having resolved for once , with a timid and yet delicious excitement , to act as the head of the family . Meanwhile Mrs. Thornburgh was laying plans on her own account . ` Ten o'clock -- moonlight , ' said that contriving person to herself going home -- ` at least if the clouds hold up -- that 'll do -- could n't be better . ' * * * * * To any person familiar with her character the signs of some unusual preoccupation were clear enough in Mrs. Leyburn during this Thursday evening . Catherine noticed them at once when she got back from High Ghyll about eight o'clock , and wondered first of all what was the matter ; and then , with more emphasis , why the trouble was not immediately communicated to her . It had never entered into her head to take her mother into her confidence with regard to Elsmere .