four o'clock
There was almost complete silence along the front . Since yesterday 's action , which had checked the guns commanding the range of the house , there had been little firing . She guessed that the lull was only a recess of preparation for the grand attack on the first line of permanent defence , and that probably this would follow Westerling 's arrival . He was due at four o'clock and he would be characteristically prompt to the minute . `` It must not be ! Hugo Mallin is too fine a spirit to be sacrificed . I 'll go on my knees , if need be , to Westerling , '' Marta was thinking as she paced back and forth in her room .