about two o'clock
In the two weeks since the day at the old house they had not chanced to be often alone , and to-night , for the first time , Cherry admitted that she could fight no longer . A few days before she had again gone to the dentist , and again had waited for Peter at the great hotel . But on this occasion he had not known of her engagement in town , and had lunched elsewhere , so that Cherry had waited , growing weary , headachy , and heartsick as the slow moments went their way . Peter , happening to telephone to Alix , at about two o'clock , had learned that Cherry was in the city , and hanging up the receiver , had sat wrapped in agitated thought for a few minutes before rushing to the hotel on the desperate hazard of finding her there . The sight of the little patient figure , the irradiation of her face , as they met , the ecstasy of delight with which their hands were joined , and the flood of joy in their hearts , as he took her to tea , was illuminating to them both . Cherry had spent two long hours waiting only for the sight of that eager , limping , straight-shouldered form , and Peter had experienced enough anguish as he sped to find her to tear the last deception away . To-night they talked as lovers , his arm about the soft little clinging figure , her small , firm fingers tight in his own .