about one o'clock
After that his strength ebbed visibly through the morning . Chicksands , who must return to town in the afternoon , sat with him , Pamela and Elizabeth opposite -- Alice and Margaret not far away . The two doctors watched their patient , and Martin whispered to Aubrey Mannering , who had come down by a night train , that the struggle for life could not last much longer . Presently about one o'clock , Aubrey , who had been called out of the room , came back and whispered something to Chicksands , who at once went away . Elizabeth , looking up , saw agitation and expectancy in the Major 's look . But he said nothing . In a few minutes Chicksands reappeared .