ten o'clock at night
He had nipped in the bud the possible meeting between Eustacia and her old lover this very night . But he had not anticipated that the tendency of his action would be to divert Wildeve 's movement rather than to stop it . The gambling with the guineas had not conduced to make him a welcome guest to Clym ; but to call upon his wife 's relative was natural , and he was determined to see Eustacia . It was necessary to choose some less untoward hour than ten o'clock at night . `` Since it is unsafe to go in the evening , '' he said , `` I 'll go by day . '' Meanwhile Venn had left the heath and gone to call upon Mrs. Yeobright , with whom he had been on friendly terms since she had learnt what a providential countermove he had made towards the restitution of the family guineas . She wondered at the lateness of his call , but had no objection to see him .