half after
eight
But at six o'clock Mrs. Schum was reported `` as well as could be expected '' and the operation apparently a success . They rode home through the early morning , Lilly insisting upon a taxicab and Harry lying back , quite frankly spent , against her arm . Her vitality was unquenchable , mounted , in fact , under stress . Untired , she brewed him hot coffee , forced him to drink it and lie down ; tidied up the little flat there at six-thirty o'clock in the morning , with a hit-and-a-miss it is true , but allaying all signs of confusion ; fluted an Eton collar for Zoe and packed her off to school ; and at half after eight , just out of a cold and invigorating shower , was combing out the fine electric rush of her hair , a pink Turkish bathrobe , the color of her firm , cool skin , wrapped tightly about her and caught in by a cord at her waist line . Suddenly through the mirror she saw the door open , and before she could call out , Harry stood in the center of the room , his eyes running quite unmistakably over the contour of her sheathed body . It was the first time he had ever violated the slightest nicety , and , outraged even in her pity for him , her hand flew up , drawing the robe closer at her breast . `` Do n't come in ! ''