eight o'clock
No flowers by request . '' `` On the 20th instant at The Shelter ; Mapledurham , Annette , wife of Soames Forsyte , of a daughter . '' And underneath on the blottingpaper he traced the word `` son . '' It was eight o'clock in an ordinary autumn world when he went across to the house . Bushes across the river stood round and bright-coloured out of a milky haze ; the wood-smoke went up blue and straight ; and his doves cooed , preening their feathers in the sunlight . He stole up to his dressing-room , bathed , shaved , put on fresh linen and dark clothes . Madame Lamotte was beginning her breakfast when he went down .