seven o'clock
`` I just listened , but she saw them . '' `` Lord ! '' said Nicholas again , and rode on in profound silence . The Maxwells were to stay to supper at the Court ; and drive home afterwards ; so there was no opportunity for Chris to go down and bathe in the lake as he usually did in summer after a day 's hunting , for supper was at seven o'clock , and he had scarcely more than time to dress . Nicholas was very talkative at supper , and poured out all that Chris had told him , with his usual lack of discretion ; for the other had already told the others once all the details that he thought would interest them . `` They were talking about the divorce , '' he broke out , and then stopped and eyed Ralph craftily ; `` but I had better not speak of that here -- eh , Chris ? '' Ralph looked blandly at his plate .