about five o’clock
Few women of old family can be thoroughly taught that a fine soul may wear a smock-frock , and an admittedly common man in one is but a worm in their eyes . John Smith 's rough hands and clothes , his wife 's dialect , the necessary narrowness of their ways , being constantly under Elfride 's notice , were not without their deflecting influence . On reaching home after the perilous adventure by the sea-shore , Knight had felt unwell , and retired almost immediately . The young lady who had so materially assisted him had done the same , but she reappeared , properly clothed , about five o'clock . She wandered restlessly about the house , but not on account of their joint narrow escape from death . The storm which had torn the tree had merely bowed the reed , and with the deliverance of Knight all deep thought of the accident had left her . The mutual avowal which it had been the means of precipitating occupied a far longer length of her meditations .