eight o'clock
And now that we understand the situation , I think I may presume that we shall have breakfast at the usual hour this morning , and to-morrow morning , and for many mornings to come . And , by the way , Prudence , while I have honored you with my confidence , permit me to impress it upon you that this revelation is not village gossip as yet , and you will put me under further obligations by not mentioning the circumstance . Good-morning , Prudence . Kindly call the ladies at eight o'clock . '' And thereupon I hastily departed , leaving the good woman in a state of stupefaction , since , for the first and only time in our long and controversial association , had I retired with the last word . Taking a second turn in the garden I encountered Malachy , and my conscience reproached me . `` Am I doing right , '' I asked myself , `` in withholding the glad news from this faithful servant who has shown himself so worthy of my confidence ?