ten minutes to six before
One sees well that she has the white heart ! '' But the companion was less amiable , and enraged herself because there were already applicants enough , and with each new-comer her own chance of success became less assured . At intervals of five or ten minutes the butler returned and marshalled the next in order to the presence of the lady of the house , but , short as were the interviews , it was a weary wait before it came to Pixie 's turn , and she wondered fearfully whether Bridgie had taken fright at her absence , and was even now searching the streets in a panic of alarm . The hands of the clock pointed to ten minutes to six before the butler gave the longed-for signal , and she smiled at him in her most friendly manner as she crossed the room towards him . Without any exchange of words she divined that he took more interest in herself than in any of the other applicants , and also that for some mysterious reason he was sorry for her , and imagined that she was making a mistake , and the smile was meant at once as thanks and reassurement . They walked together down the slippery floor , such a slippery , shiny floor , that one felt as if skates would be almost more in keeping than boots , and finally arrived at a cosy little room at the back of the house , where a tired-looking gentleman and a bored-looking lady stood ready to receive her . They looked at each other , they looked at the butler , they looked again at the little pig-tailed figure , with short skirts and beaming , childlike face , and their faces became blank with astonishment .