six o'clock
Miss Farrow sank gracefully down into her deep , comfortable chair . Again she put out her feet to the fire , for it was very cold on this 23rd of December , and she knew she had a tiring , probably a boring , evening before her . Some strangers of whom she knew nothing , and cared less , excepting that they were the friends of her friend and host , Lionel Varick , were to arrive at Wyndfell Hall in time for dinner . It was now six o'clock . `` Well , '' she said patiently , `` begin at the beginning , Pegler . I wish you 'd sit down too -- somehow it worries me to see you standing there . You 'll be tempted to cut your story short . ''