six o'clock
She has chosen her own path in life , and I only hope that she may not find it unpleasant . '' Then they shook hands and separated ; Merton to attend to a little business matter , then to go home to his wife , with some new things to tell her . Eden 's mental remark was , `` I may see -- I hope to see Miss Affleck again , not once , but scores and hundreds of times ; but I shall not grieve much , my veracious and noble-minded friend , if I should never again run against _ you _ in Piccadilly or any other thoroughfare . '' From his visit to Eden , which , in different ways , had proved satisfactory to both gentlemen , Merton returned at six o'clock to dine with his wife , their usual midday meal having been put off until that hour to suit his convenience . He had brought a bottle of good wine with him ; for with fifty pounds in his pocket he could afford to be free for once , and at table he made himself very entertaining . `` This has been a red-letter day , '' he said , `` and I shall finish it by being as lazy as I like to be . I should n't care to sit down now to work after such a good dinner .