eight o’clock
The letter was posted ; and the mother 's anxious mind was , to use her own phrase , relieved of another worry . As the hour of eight drew near on Wednesday evening , Mrs. Westerfield 's anxiety forced her to find relief in action of some kind . She opened the door of her sitting-room and listened on the stairs . It still wanted for a few minutes to eight o'clock , when there was a ring at the house-bell . She ran down to open the door . The servant happened to be in the hall , and answered the bell . The next moment , the door was suddenly closed again .