five o'clock
The fever nurse declared that she was immensely improved in appearance , and asked at once if she was not feeling better . `` Yes , '' answered Lloyd , `` very much better , '' adding : `` I shall be down to supper to-night . '' For some reason that she could not explain Lloyd took unusual pains with her toilet , debating long over each detail of dress and ornament . At length , toward five o'clock , she was ready , and sat down by her window , a book in her lap , to await the announcement of supper as the condemned await the summons to execution . Her plan was to delay her appearance in the dining-room until she was sure that everybody was present ; then she would go down , and , standing there before them all , say what she had to say , state the few bald facts of the case , without excuse or palliation , and leave them to draw the one inevitable conclusion . But this final hour of waiting was a long agony for Lloyd . Her moods changed with every moment ; the action she contemplated presented itself to her mind in a multitude of varying lights .