four o'clock
Mme. Lemercier , who in the time of the siege had seen great suffering , had never seen anything like this ; even Thekla Sonnenthal realized that for the time she was beyond the reach of human comfort . Before long the farewells were over . Erica was once more alone with her father , her cheeks wet with the tears of others , her own eyes still hot and dry . They were to catch the four o'clock train ; the afternoon was dark , and already the streets and shops were lighted ; Paris , ever bright and gay , seemed tonight brighter and gayer than ever . She watched the placid-looking passengers , the idle loungers at the cafes ; did they know what pain was ? Did they know that death was sure ? Presently she found herself in a second-class carriage , wedged in between her father and a heavy-featured priest ; who diligently read a little dogs-eared breviary .