two o'clock in the morning
Ashmead was in the hall to show his patroness to her carriage -- a duty he never failed in . Rhoda shook hands with him , and he said , `` Delighted to see you here , miss . You will be a great comfort to her . '' The two friends communed till two o'clock in the morning : but the limits of my tale forbid me to repeat what passed . Suffice it to say that Rhoda was fairly puzzled by the situation ; but , having a great regard for Vizard , saw clearly enough that he ought to be sent back to Islip . She thought that perhaps the very sight of her would wound his pride , and , finding his mania discovered by a third person , he would go of his own accord : so she called on him . My lord received her with friendly composure , and all his talk was about Islip .