Five o'clock
She was very anxious to see Bessie , and to talk to her as they could only talk when they were alone . She wanted to know her faithful friend 's motive for that cruel deception about Brian Walford . That the frank , tender-hearted Bessie could have so deceived her from any unworthy motive was impossible . Five o'clock struck , and Ida was sitting alone in the drawing-room , waiting to receive her friend , just as if she were the daughter of the house , instead of a salaried dependent . The pretty carved Indian tea-table -- a gem in Bombay blackwood -- was wheeled in front of the fire-place , which was old , as regarded the high wooden mantel-piece and capacious breadth of the hearth , but essentially new in its glittering tiles and dainty brass fire-irons . The clock had hardly finished striking when Bessie bounced into the room , rosy and smiling , in sealskin jacket and toque . ` Oh , you darling !