Speak about short time in lodge (4)
I believe the answer is:
stay
'lodge' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'speak about short time' is the wordplay.
'speak' becomes 'say' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'short time' becomes 't' (abbreviation for time).
'say' going around 't' is 'STAY'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for stay that I've seen before include "Defer" , "Stop; support" , "Support, delay" , "Remain - support" , "guy to > put off" .)