Four o'clock
Julian Horne , who had taken a great fancy to Helena 's chaperon , was now recommending books to her instead of to Helena , who always forgot or disobeyed his instructions . With a little preliminary lecture , he had put the `` Greville Memoirs '' in her hands by way of improving her mind ; and she had been struck by a passage in which Greville describes Lord Melbourne 's training of the young Queen Victoria , whose Prime Minister he was . The man of middle-age , accomplished , cynical and witty , suddenly confronted with a responsibility which challenged both his heart and his conscience -- and that a responsibility towards an attractive young girl whom he could neither court nor command , towards whom his only instrument was the honesty and delicacy of his own purpose : -- there was something in this famous , historical situation which seemed to throw a light on the humbler situation at Beechmark . Four o'clock ! In another hour the Whitsuntide party for which the house stood ready would have arrived . Helena 's particular `` pals '' were all coming , and various friends and kinsfolk of Lord Buntingford 's ; including Lady Mary Chance , a general or two , some Admiralty officials , and one or two distinguished sailors with the halo of Zeebrugge about them . The gathering was to last nearly a week .