six o'clock
The more she thought of it , the more she felt that there had been a plan to influence her . She did not like to be the subject of one of Mrs. Hilbrough 's clever manoeuvers at the suggestion of her lover . The old question rose again whether she and Charley could go on in this way ; whether it might not be her duty to release him from an engagement that could only make him miserable . He called that evening while the Callenders were at six o'clock dinner . He was in evening dress , on the way to dine at the house of a friend , and he went straight to the Callender basement dining-room , where he chatted as much with Mrs. Callender and Agatha as with Phillida , who on her part could not show her displeasure before the others , for lovers ' quarrels are too precious to be shared with the nearest friend . He left before the dinner was over , so that Phillida did not have a moment alone with him . The next evening she expected him to call , but he only sent her a bunch of callas .