five
o'clock
The last fierce look of summer had parched anew the fevered limbs of the sufferer up stairs , and roused to sharper conflict the bewildered brain . Mrs. Ried 's care had been earnest and unremitting , and Sadie , in her unaccustomed position of mistress below stairs , had reached the very verge of bewildered weariness . She gave nervous glances at the inexorable clock as she flew back and forth . There were those among Mrs. Ried 's boarders whose business made it almost a necessity that they should be promptly served at five o'clock . Maggie had been hurriedly summoned to do an imperative errand connected with the sick room ; and this inexperienced butterfly , with her wings sadly drooping , was trying to gather her scattered wits together sufficiently to get that dreadful tea-table ready for the thirteen boarders who were already waiting the summons . `` What _ did _ I come after ? '' she asked herself impatiently , as she pressed her hand to her frowning forehead , and stared about the pantry in a vain attempt to decide what had brought her there in such hot haste .