six
o’clock
Still , my sister refuses to own the scientific merits of the natural system , and can point to school-bred and lectured young ladies who have no notion how to discover the name or nature of a live plant . On the Friday after our arrival the noises had been so fearful that Griff had been exasperated into going off across the hills , accompanied by his constant shadow , Martyn , in search of the professional ratcatcher of the neighbourhood , in spite of Chapman 's warning -- that Tom Petty was the biggest rascal in the neighbourhood , and a regular out and out poacher ; and as to the noises -- he could n't ` tackle the like of they . ' After revelling in the beauty of the beechwoods as long as was good for me or for Clarence , I was left in the garden to sketch the ruin , while my two companions started on one of their exploring expeditions . It was getting late enough to think of going to prepare for the six o'clock dinner when Emily came forth alone from the path between the trees , announcing -- ` An adventure , Edward ! We have had such an adventure . ' ` Where 's Clarence ? ' ` Gone for the doctor !