six o’clock
My heart beat to suffocation , the tears burned my lids , the joy , the mystery of it seemed too intolerable to be borne . I could not understand even then the words of the song ; but I knew that if there had been someone at my side who could have heard it with me , we might have found the key to it together . `` I turned to my husband , who was sitting beside me in an attitude of patient dejection , gazing into the bottom of his hat ; but at that moment he rose , and stretching his stiffened legs , said , mildly : ` Had n't we better be going ? There does n't seem to be much to see here , and you know the table d'hote dinner is at half-past six o'clock . '' Her recital ended , there was an interval of silence ; then the Spirit of Life said : `` There is a compensation in store for such needs as you have expressed . '' `` Oh , then you DO understand ? '' she exclaimed .