about four in the afternoon
But one would have said she was repulsed , she found her task unconsciously repugnant . During the course of the morning Mrs. Rollings came up and said that the Italian from last week had come , and could he speak to Miss Houghton . `` Tell him she 's resting , and Mr. Houghton is seriously ill , '' said Miss Pinnegar sharply . When Alvina came downstairs at about four in the afternoon she found a package : a comb of carved bone , and a message from Madame : `` To Miss Houghton , with kindest greetings and most sincere thanks from Kishwégin . '' The comb with its carved , beast-faced serpent was her portion . Alvina asked if there had been any other message . None .