eight o'clock
The House of Heth looked like a deserted house ; its blinds were drawn from fourth story to basement . However , there was old Moses , bowing and running down the steps to open the carriage door and assist with the hand-luggage . He greeted the ladies with courtliness , and inquired mout anybody be sick . Answered vaguely on this point , he announced that he had breakfast ready-waiting on the table ; this , though Mr. Canning 's telegraph never retched him till nea ` bout eight o'clock . His tone indicated a pride of accomplishment not , he hoped , unjustified . Having removed the more superficial stains of travel , the two women sat at table in the half-dismantled dining-room . It was a meal not easily to be forgotten , made the more fantastic by Mrs. Heth 's determined attempts to act as if nothing in particular had happened .