nine o’clock before
And was it , by any chance , at the bottom of her long absence and her notice to quit ? He determined -- without letting her see that he suspected her -- to clear up that doubt as soon as his landlady returned to the house . The evening came . It was past nine o'clock before there was a ring at the bell . The servant came to ask for the key . Geoffrey rose to go to the gate himself -- and changed his mind before he left the room . _ Her _ suspicions might be roused -LRB- supposing it to be Hester who was waiting for admission -RRB- if he opened the gate to her when the servant was there to do it .