eight o'clock
She looked at her knuckles , critically , as though the hand belonged to some one else . Then she smiled . And even as she smiled a great lump came into her throat , and the bruise blurred before her eyes , and she was crying rackingly , relievedly , huddled there in her red plush corner . It was eight o'clock when she let herself into her apartment . She had given the maid a whole holiday . When Fanny had turned on the light in her little hallway she stood there a moment , against the door , her hand spread flat against the panel . It was almost as though she patted it , lovingly , gratefully .