seven in the morning
He slept on an improvised bed in the sitting-room , and during the night the nurse came down many times and listened to the sound of his snores . She would put her ear against the door , and rest her nerves with the thought of human companionship . Sometimes she opened the door quietly and watched him as he slept . Except at night , when he was rarely quite sober , Stott only visited his cottage once a day , at lunch time ; from seven in the morning till ten at night he remained in Ailesworth save for this one call of inquiry . It was such a still house . Ellen Mary only spoke when speech was absolutely required , and then her words were the fewest possible , and were spoken in a whisper . The child made no sound of any kind .