seven in the evening
One day the truth about his disinterested patriotism would become known . For the present he would sit silent , calmly waiting at least until unjust resentment subsided and reason reasserted her sway . Many days passed , as it happened , before West and the Secretary of Charities met ; six days before West and the Assistant Secretary met . On the sixth night , about half-past seven in the evening , he came unexpectedly face to face with Sharlee Weyland in the vestibule of Mrs. Byrd , Senior 's , handsome house . In the days intervening , Sharlee 's state of mind had remained very much where it was on the first morning : only now the tiny open corner of her mind had shrunk to imperceptible dimensions . Of West she entertained not the smallest doubt ; and she greeted him like the excellent friend she knew him to be . There was a little dinner-dance at Mrs. Byrd 's , for the season 's _ débutantes _ .