about half past three o'clock
A great stillness had settled over the house . The two servants waiting Lloyd 's orders in the hall outside the door refrained even from whispering . From the next room came the muffled sound of pacing footsteps , hurried , irregular , while with that strange perversity which seizes upon the senses at moments when they are more than usually acute Lloyd began to be aware of a vague , unwonted movement in the City itself , outside there behind the drawn curtains and half-opened window -- a faint , uncertain agitation , a trouble , a passing ripple on the still black pool of the night , coming and going , and coming again , each time a little more insistent , each time claiming a little more attention and notice . It was about half past three o'clock . But the little patient 's temperature was rising -- there could be no doubt about that . The lungs expanded wider and deeper . Hattie 's breathing was unmistakably easier ; and as Lloyd put her fingers to the wrist she could hardly keep back a little exultant cry as she felt the pulse throbbing fuller , a little slower , a little more regularly .