about
     nine o'clock
So far I have given my letters to my maid , and I can not think of any reason which could induce her to be wicked enough to destroy or suppress them . This , at least , will be sure to reach you , and if my fancy is absurd , I know you well enough to trust to your forgiveness . If you are not ` John of Itzia , ' I can only fear that something dreadful has happened , for I do not believe that you could be so unkind as to leave eight consecutive letters of mine unanswered by a single word . I have only just seen the advertisement by chance , and if you are at home when this arrives it ought to reach you at about nine o'clock . It is very little over an hour 's drive to Richmond , and I beg you to come down at once . If the whole thing is a mistake , you have still something to explain , and must have , I am sure a great deal to tell me . `` Yours always , `` Violet . ''