five o'clock
On the contrary , from her bedroom window she had observed groups of men talking and smoking , presumably servants , as several wore silver badges on their turbans , and soiled white linen coats , and among these were some jovial Burmans and one or two wide-trousered Chinamen . No doubt Fernanda , the treasure , had kept the house in working order , and now that she had abdicated , her sceptre lay in the dust -- in every sense of the word . Was it her , Sophy 's , duty to raise it ? She noticed quantities of litter and cobwebs in the drawing-room , but there were no flowers or knick-knacks ; the silver teapot that appeared with tea at five o'clock was nearly black . It was not a luxurious meal , a weak Chinese mixture , and a plate of fossilised biscuits . The morning after her arrival Sophy was awakened by a soft tremulous touch on her hand ; she opened her eyes and beheld her aunt stooping over her . She was clad in a shabby , splendidly embroidered red kimono , and appeared to have made a temporary recovery .