five o'clock
She no longer looked out from the limited space of a narrow window onto ragged flower beds in whose soft , loose earth floundered wind-blown chickens . She dwelt in the wide , white marble halls of a lofty new Post Office . Bell boys , porters and stenographers surrounded her . It was five o'clock . The Professor stood near while she sorted out some letters and placed them in pigeon-holes . He was clad in the latest fashion as laid down by the London Tailors who , at the first sound of the Boom , had hastened on the wings of the wind to the Magic City . His frock coat radiated newness , his patent leathers shone , and a portion of the brim of a tall silk hat rested daintily between thumb and fingers of a well-gloved hand .