about five o'clock
`` And was he really sick ? '' she demanded . `` She 's later than usual this trip , '' continued Ellis , pursuing his thought . `` She was due about five o'clock . '' Miss Pemberton , under cover of the darkness , smiled a fine smile , which foreboded ill for some one . When they joined the party on the piazza , the major had come up and was saying that it was time to go . He had been engaged in conversation , for most of the evening , with General Belmont and several other gentlemen .