eight o'clock
Sylvia leaned back , laughing . Mrs. Elliott , who infuriated Thomas , and exasperated Austin , was a never-failing source of enjoyment to her . She went back to the porch to wait for Austin , still chuckling . After the conversation she had had with him , she was greatly surprised , when , a little after eight o'clock , the garden gate clicked . She ran down the steps hurriedly with his name on her lips . But the figure coming towards her through the dusk was much smaller than Austin 's and a voice answered her , in broken English , `` It ai n't Mr. Gray , missus . It 's me . ''