about eleven o'clock
She prowled nervously round Mrs. Leyburn , filled with contempt for her placidity ; but she did not attack her . She spent herself , indeed , on Rose and Agnes , but long practice had made them adepts in the art of baffling her ; and when Mr. Flaxman went to tea at the vicarage in their company , in spite of an absorbing desire to get at the truth , which caused her to forget a new cap , and let fall a plate of tea-cakes , she was obliged to confess crossly to the vicar afterwards that ` no one could tell what a man like that was after . She supposed his manners were very aristocratic , but for her part she liked plain people . ' On the last morning of Mr. Flaxman 's stay in the valley he entered the Burwood drive about eleven o'clock , and Rose came down the steps to meet him . For a moment he flattered himself that her disturbed looks were due to the nearness of their farewells . ` There is something wrong , ' he said , softly detaining her hand a moment -- so much , at least , was in his right . ` Robert is ill .