two in the
morning
Lady Charlton had not the faintest shadow of a doubt `` the woman was a wicked woman , and the wicked woman , as wicked women do , had entrapped a '' -LRB- the adjective was conspicuous by its absence -RRB- `` a man . '' Such a woman was to be forgiven , even -- a bitter sigh could not be suppressed -- to be prayed for ; but it was not necessary to try to take a falsely charitable view of her , or invent unlikely circumstances in her defence . It was a relief to the darkest of all dark thoughts in Rose 's mind , the doubt of the validity of her own marriage , to hear her mother settling this question as she had settled so many questions years ago , by the weight of personal authority . At last the clock on the stairs below told them that it was two in the morning , and Lady Charlton had to leave London by an early train . She was torn between the claim of her youngest married daughter , who was laid up in a lonely country house in Scotland , and that of Rose in this new and miserable trouble . `` I could telegraph to Bertha that I ca n't come , '' she said suddenly . `` But I am afraid she would miss me . ''