about half past eight
For the first time I realized that my grandmother too had been young ; that , without doubt , before the trouble with her head , my father had loved her as I loved my mamma , and I felt that he would sorrow greatly when he lost her ; I felt sorry for him and I was also full of remorse because I had laughed at her singing , and had been amused when she spoke to her image reflected in the looking-glass . They sent me down stairs . On different pretexts , the reason for which I did not understand , they kept me away from the room until the day was over ; then they took me to the house of our friends , the D -- s , where I was to have dinner with Lucette . When , at about half past eight , I returned home with my nurse , I insisted upon going straight to my grandmother 's room . When I entered I was struck with the order and the air of profound peace that pervaded the room . My father was sitting motionless at the head of the bed -- he was in the shadow , the open curtains were draped with great precision , and on the pillow , just in its middle , was the head of my sleeping grandmother ; her whole position had about it something very regular -- something that suggested eternal rest . My mother and sister were seated beside a chiffonier near the door , from which place they had kept watch over my grandmother during her illness .