six o'clock
She stood still , staring blankly ahead of her , in the centre of the room . The memory came over her in a wave ; the odd , half-hesitating , half-confident look in his eyes as his arms enveloped her , the faint aroma of talcum powder and soap , the touch of his smoothly shaven cheek . It was almost an hour later that she went cautiously downstairs . He was gone -- had been gone since half-past six o'clock , Joseph reported . Norma went in to dinner with Mrs. Melrose , and they talked cheerfully of Chris 's return , of Leslie and Annie . By eight o'clock , reading in Mrs. Melrose 's upstairs sitting-room , that first room that she had seen in this big house , eight months ago , Norma began to feel just a trifle flat . Chris Liggett was one of the most popular men in society , in demand everywhere , spoiled by women everywhere .