About seven o'clock
I was annoyed by the incident , and was afraid it would prejudice Kate 's uncle -- if he had returned -- against her , or if he had not , that his wife would be vexed . Before the hack was out of sight , I was sorry I had not permitted Kate to go . I talked the matter over with her , and with her kind friends , who thought I had been over-nice about the matter . About seven o'clock , the same hackman came again . I was sent for , and met him in the office . He was as surly and cross as before , though his face wore something like an expression of triumph this time . `` It 's a dale of throuble you 're makin for your friends , '' said he , handing me a note .