three o'clock
The jerk of plumbing . A window being raised . That creak which lies hidden in every darkness , like a mysterious knee joint . By three o'clock she was a quivering victim to these petty concepts , and her pillow so explored that not a spot but was rumpled to the aching lay of he cheek . Once Alma , as a rule supersensitive to her mother 's slightest unrest , floated up for the moment out of her young sleep , but she was very drowsy and very tired , and dream tides were almost carrying her back as she said : `` Mamma , you all right ? '' Simulating sleep , Mrs. Samstag lay tense until her daughter 's breathing resumed its light cadence . Then at four o'clock the kind of nervousness that Mrs. Samstag had learned to fear began to roll over her in waves , locking her throat and curling her toes and fingers and her tongue up dry against the roof of her mouth .