six o'clock
Would he hesitate for a moment to sacrifice her if it came to a choice between them ? The tempestuousness of these thoughts , when they took possession of her , hinting as they did of possibilities in her nature hitherto unguessed and unrevealed , astonished and frightened her ; she sought to thrust them away , to reassure herself that his concern for the successful delivery of the Bradlaugh order was natural . During the morning , in the intervals between interviews with the superintendents , he was self-absorbed , and she found herself inconsistently resenting the absence of those expressions of endearment -- the glances and stolen caresses -- for indulgence in which she had hitherto rebuked him : and though pride came to her rescue , fuel was added to her feeling by the fact that he did not seem to notice her coolness . Since he failed to appear after lunch , she knew he must be investigating the suspicions Orcutt had voiced ; but at six o'clock , when he had not returned , she closed up her desk and left the office . An odour of cheap perfume pervading the corridor made her aware of the presence of Miss Lottie Myers . `` Oh , it 's you ! '' said that young woman , looking up from the landing of the stairs .