nearly eight o'clock
he said half aloud : `` it is a bitter trial to bear . If this illness should end in death , I may never know Marian 's fate . '' He sat in the sick man 's room all through that long dismal afternoon , waiting to see the doctor , and with the same hopeless thoughts repeating themselves perpetually in his mind . It was nearly eight o'clock when Mr. Mew at last made his evening visit . He was a grave gray-haired little man , with a shrewd face and a pleasant manner ; a man who inspired Gilbert with confidence , and whose presence was cheering in a sick-room ; but he did not speak very hopefully of John Saltram . `` It is a bad case , sir -- a very bad case , '' he said gravely , after he had made his careful examination of the patient 's condition . `` There has been a violent cold caught , you see , through our poor friend 's recklessness in neglecting to change his damp clothes , and rheumatic fever has set in .