about ten o'clock
Throwing off her bonnet and shawl , she went down into the parlours , but found all dark there . `` Where is Mr. Canning ? '' she asked of a servant . `` He went away about ten o'clock , and has not returned yet , '' was replied . This intelligence caused Mrs. Canning to lean hard on the stair-railing for support . She felt in an instant weak almost as an infant . Without further question , she went back to her chamber , and looked about fearfully on bureaus and tables for a letter addressed to her in her husband 's handwriting .