four o'clock
She directed the driver to the ferry again , and went back to Quicksands . Several times during the day she was on the point of telephoning Brent not to try to persuade Howard to rent the house , and once she even got so far as to take down the receiver . But when she reflected , it seemed an impossible thing to do . At four o'clock she herself was called to the telephone by Mr. Cray , a confidential clerk in Howard 's office , who informed her that her husband had been obliged to leave town suddenly on business , and would not be home that night . `` Did n't he say where he was going ? '' asked Honora . `` He did n't even tell me , Mrs. Spence , '' Cray replied , and Mr. Dallam does n't know . ''