ten o'clock
`` I wish I were dead ! '' she cried , passionately , for the first time in her life . Suddenly and smoothly they were all transported to town again , and the vigour and sparkle of the autumn was exhilarating to Norma in spite of herself . The Park was a glory of red and gold leaves ; morning came late , and the dew shone until ten o'clock ; bright mists rose smoking into the sunlight , and when Norma walked home from a luncheon , or from an hour of furious squash or tennis at the club , the early winter dusk would be closing softly in , the mists returning , and the lights of the long Mall in the park blooming round and blue in the twilight . She was with Mrs. Melrose this winter , an arrangement extremely welcome to the old lady , who was lonely and liked the stir of young life in the house . Alice had quite charmingly and naturally suggested the change , and Norma 's belongings had been moved away from the little white room next to Miss Slater 's . One reason for it was that Alice had had two nurses all summer long , and found the increased service a great advantage .