half past eight
Mary felt grateful to him for giving her something that was not maddening to think about and after the performance went with him and his wife to supper so that it was well after midnight before she returned to the cottage . It was an ineffable relief to find it dark . Her habit on warm nights was to sleep on the gloucester swing in the screened veranda and she made it her bed to-night , though beyond a short uneasy doze of two , she did n't sleep at all . At half past eight or so , just after she had sat down to breakfast , she heard her father coming down the stairs . She tried to call to him but could command no voice and so waited , frozen , until he appeared in the doorway . `` I thought I heard you stirring down here and that it perhaps meant breakfast . Paula wo n't be down , I suppose , for hours .