4 a.m.
Mrs. Maldon was fast asleep . Mrs. Tams lowered the gas and resumed her chair , and the street lamp once more threw the shadows of the window-frames on the blinds . The next day Mrs. Tams , who had been appointed to sleep in the spare room , had to exist under the blight of Rachel 's chill disapproval because she had not slept in the spare room -- nor in any bed at all . The arrangement had been that Mrs. Tams should retire at 4 a.m. , Rachel taking her place with Mrs. Maldon . Mrs. Tams had not retired at 4 a.m. because Rachel had not taken her place . As a fact , Rachel had been wakened by a bang of the front door , at 10.30 a.m. only . Her first glance at the alarm-clock on her dressing-table was incredulous .