five o'clock
Then one of the doors opposite her opened as its occupant , a quiet little elderly woman , came out , and she had a brief glimpse of the white curtained window , the white draped comfortable looking bed , a row of calico curtained hooks on the wall , and a speck of a wash stand with tin pitcher and basin in the corner , all as clean and new as the rest of the place . She swiftly decided to stay here if there was any chance . Another look at the sweet face of the presiding woman who was trying to make them understand how crowded everything was , and how many mothers there were with sons who were going that night or the next , and who wanted to be near them , determined her . She was saying there was just a chance in case a certain mother from Boston who had written her did not arrive at five o'clock : `` But we ought not to take a chance , '' said Cameron 's mother , looking at the eager faced girl with a cautious wistfulness . `` What could we do if night came and we had no place to stay ? '' Ruth cast her eyes about . `` Could n't we sit in a couple of those rocking chairs all night ? ''