ten o'clock
Miriam had decided that in a day or two she would go down to Bartles ; not to stay there , but merely to see her relative , Mrs. Fletcher , and Redbeck House . Before leaving London , she must visit Reuben ; she had promised Cecily to do so without delay . This same evening she posted a card to her brother , asking him to be at home to see her early the next morning . She reached Belsize Park at ten o'clock , and dismissed the cab as soon as she had alighted from it . Her ring at the door was long in being answered , and the maid-servant who at last appeared did small credit to the domestic arrangements of the house -- she was slatternly , and seemed to resent having her morning occupations , whatever they were , thus disturbed . Miriam learnt with surprise that Mr. Elgar was not at home . `` He is out of town ? ''