six o'clock
A phrase of Mrs. Fowler 's , `` happiness costs so little , '' floated through Gabriella 's mind as she poured Miss Folly 's coffee out of the tin coffee pot . She was so tired that her body ached ; her feet were smarting and throbbing from the long standing ; and her eyes stung from the cold wind and the glare of the elevated train ; but she knew that in spite of these discomforts she was not unhappy -- that she was , indeed , far happier than she had been for the past six years in the hushed suspense of her father-in-law 's house . When she had carried the supper things back to the sink in the kitchen , had taught the children their lessons , heard their prayers , and put them to bed , she repeated the words to herself while she sat sewing beside the lamp in front of the comforting glow of the fire , `` After all , happiness costs so little . '' The next morning , and on every morning throughout the winter , she was up by six o'clock , and had taken in the baker 's rolls and the bottle of milk from the outer door before Miss Polly or the children were stirring . Then , having dressed quickly , she ran back to the kitchen and made the coffee and boiled the eggs while the other lodgers were still sleeping . Sometimes the mother of one of the art students would join her over the gas range , but usually her neighbours slept late and then darted through the hall in kimonos , with tumbled hair , to a hurried breakfast at the kitchen table . Her life was so busy that there was little time for anxiety , and less for futile and painful dwelling upon the past .