eleven o’clock
She had had one a day or two before in the news of her husband 's death ; for there were shocks of all kinds , not only those of grief and surprise . For that matter she had never dreamed of so near a release ; it had looked uncommonly as if he would live as long as herself . Then in the evening , in town , she had manifestly had another : something must have happened there which it would be indispensable to clear up . She had come back very late -- it was past eleven o'clock , and on being met in the hall by her cousin , who was extremely anxious , had said that she was tired and must rest a moment before mounting the stairs . They had passed together into the dining-room , her companion proposing a glass of wine and bustling to the sideboard to pour it out . This took but a moment , and when my informant turned round our poor friend had not had time to seat herself . Suddenly , with a little moan that was barely audible , she dropped upon the sofa .