six o'clock
It served , at all events , to arouse the living , for presently heavy footsteps could be heard descending the stairs , and , finally , a middle-aged maidservant , whose cap had obviously been assumed in haste , appeared , confronting Sara with an air of suspicion that seemed rather to suggest that she might have come after the spoons . `` The doctor 's out , '' she announced somewhat truculently . Then , before Sara had time to formulate any reply , she added , a thought more graciously : `` Maybe you 're a stranger to these parts . Surgery hour 's not till six o'clock . '' She was evidently fully prepared for Sara to accept this as a dismissal , and looked considerably astonished when the latter queried meekly : `` Then can I see Miss Selwyn , please ? I understand Mrs. Selwyn is an invalid . '' `` You 're right there .