eight
o'clock
The footman , who was entirely under the butler 's thumb in mundane matters , had fallen into the habit of sharing his opinions , and while agreeing in the general feeling of flightiness , declared boldly that the lady in question gave a certain `` style '' to the dinner-table that it had lacked before her advent . For a helpless victim , however , a slave bound in fetters of steel , one would have to know Cummins , the under housemaid , who lighted Mrs. Loring 's fire night and morning . She was young , shy , country bred , and new to service . When Mrs. Benson sent her to the guest 's room at eight o'clock on the morning after her arrival she stopped outside the door in a panic of fear . `` Come in ! '' called a cheerful voice . `` Come in ! ''