six o'clock
She did not know his exact address , but he could be discovered . At any rate , Mrs. Tams might be sent for him . But she could not bring herself to make any advance towards Louis . At a little after six o'clock , when the rare chapel-goers had ceased to pass , and the still rarer church-goers were beginning to respond to distant bells , Mrs. Tams informed her that tea was ready for her in the parlour , and she descended and took tea , utterly alone . Mrs. Tams had lighted the fire , and had moved the table comfortably towards the fire -- act of astounding initiative and courage , in itself a dramatic proof that Mrs. Maldon no longer reigned at Bycars . Tea finished , Rachel returned to the sick-room , where there was nothing whatever to do except watch the minutes recede . She thought of her father and brother in America .