six o'clock
Kate calmed the old woman with a few words , and taking Ralph 's dinner from her , carried it upstairs . She found her husband better , and , setting the tray on the edge of the bed , she answered the questions he put to her concerning the actor briefly ; then begged of him to excuse her , as she heard voices in the shop . Mr. Lennox had come in bringing two men with him , Joe Mortimer , the low comedian , and young Montgomery , the conductor ; and it became difficult to prevent Hender from listening at the doors , and almost useless to remind her of the fact that there were children present , so excited did she become when she spoke of Bret 's love affairs . But at six o'clock she put on her hat , and there was no dissuading her ; Mrs. Barnes must wait for her dress . There was still much to be done , and when Mrs. Ede called from the kitchen that tea was ready , Kate did not at first answer , and when at last she descended she remained only long enough to eat a piece of bread and butter . Her head was filled with grave forebodings , that gradually drifted and concentrated into one fixed idea -- not to disappoint Mrs. Barnes . Once quite suddenly , she was startled by an idea which flashed across her mind , and stopping in the middle of a ` leaf , ' she considered the question that had propounded itself .