about two o'clock
-- the maid Smither performed every morning with extreme punctiliousness the crowning ceremony of that ancient toilet . Taking from the recesses of their pure white band-box those flat , grey curls , the insignia of personal dignity , she placed them securely in her mistress 's hands , and turned her back . And every day Aunts Juley and Hester were required to come and report on Timothy ; what news there was of Nicholas ; whether dear June had succeeded in getting Jolyon to shorten the engagement , now that Mr. Bosinney was building Soames a house ; whether young Roger 's wife was really -- expecting ; how the operation on Archie had succeeded ; and what Swithin had done about that empty house in Wigmore Street , where the tenant had lost all his money and treated him so badly ; above all , about Soames ; was Irene still -- still asking for a separate room ? And every morning Smither was told : `` I shall be coming down this afternoon , Smither , about two o'clock . I shall want your arm , after all these days in bed ! '' After telling Aunt Ann , Mrs. Small had spoken of the house in the strictest confidence to Mrs. Nicholas , who in her turn had asked Winifred Dartie for confirmation , supposing , of course , that , being Soames 's sister , she would know all about it . Through her it had in due course come round to the ears of James .