eight o'clock
There 'll not be moah than half a dozen guests . '' They had reached the house by this time , and on again being assured that Lloyd intended to remain all day , the Colonel left her and turned back to take his usual morning walk , which her coming had interrupted . The telephone bell rang just as she entered the door , so Lloyd ran up-stairs to her own room , knowing that her mother would be busy for a few minutes with giving the daily household orders . Lloyd 's own ordering had been done nearly an hour , for Rob 's business necessitated an early breakfast to enable him to catch the eight o'clock car into the city . He did not return until six , so she could stay away from home any day she chose , with a clear conscience . She took her housekeeping seriously , however , and had turned out to be a most capable and thorough-going little housekeeper , but with experienced servants who had taken charge of Oaklea for years her cares were not heavy . Her room had been kept for her , just as she had used it , all through her girlhood , and Mom Beck put fresh flowers in it every day .