five o'clock
For all of his childhood , and for the last ten years , Dick 's mental habits had been right ; his environment had been love , his teaching responsibility . Even if the door opened , then , there was only the evil thinking of two or three reckless years to combat , and the door might never open . Happiness , Lauler had said , would keep it closed , and Dick was happy . When at five o'clock the nurse came in with a thermometer he was asleep in his chair , his mouth slightly open , and snoring valiantly . Hearing Dick in the lower hall , she went to the head of the stairs , her finger to her lips . Dick nodded and went into the office . The afternoon mail was lying there , and he began mechanically to open it .