ten o'clock
`` She 'll be here till ten o'clock . I 'm going to lie down . '' `` I 'll be back by ten , '' Stott assured her as he went out . He did come back at ten o'clock , but he was stupidly drunk . The Stotts ' cottage was no place to live in during the next few days , but the nurse made one stipulation : Mr. Stott must come home to sleep . He slept on an improvised bed in the sitting-room , and during the night the nurse came down many times and listened to the sound of his snores . She would put her ear against the door , and rest her nerves with the thought of human companionship .