five o'clock
His grandmother still sat erect and statue-like in her chair as though she had not moved . The hours flew by only too rapidly with Bertha , however they might have dragged in the sick-chamber . M. de Bois , also , must have lost all consciousness of time , for he did not propose to take his departure , and could Madeleine , even by a hint , dismiss him from her own house ? `` Past five o'clock , '' said she , looking up from her drawing . `` Bertha , pray ask Maurice to come to me . '' When Maurice obeyed the summons , Madeleine remarked , showing him her watch , `` You see how late it is ; I fear the countess will become exhausted for want of food . It is in vain to hope that she could be induced to dine here ; had you not better conduct her home and return ? ''