eleven o'clock
She felt capable of no consecutive thought , but found herself stupidly watching the two lines of faces , wondering , absently , what sort of people they were ; what were their lives and histories ; and whether they all had , like herself , their own personal burden of woe . Which was , alas ! the one fact that never need be doubted in this world . It was nigh upon eleven o'clock when Hilary knocked at the door of No. 15 . Miss Leaf opened it ; but for the first time in her life she had no welcome for her child . `` Is it Ascott ? I thought it was Ascott , '' she cried , peering eagerly up and down the street .