seven in the evening
I saw Ireton when he set out to pay his call . His Gladstone-bags had provided him with the costume of Piccadilly ; from shining hat to patent-leather shoes , he was immaculate . Seeing that he had to walk more than a mile , that the month was September , and that he could not pretend to have come straight from town , this apparel struck me as not a little inappropriate ; I could only suppose that the man had no social tact . At seven in the evening he again sought me . His urban glories were exchanged for the ordinary attire , but I at once read in his face that he had suffered no humiliation . ` Come and dine with me at the inn , ' he exclaimed cordially ; ` if one may use such a word as _ dine _ under the circumstances . ' ` With pleasure . '