nearly
seven o'clock
You were very much occupied , and did not notice me particularly . I dragged on , as best I could , through the afternoon , feeling , sometimes , as if I would drop from my chair . You had tea later than usual . It was nearly seven o'clock when I put up my work and went down . You said something in a kind , but absent tone , about my looking pale , and asked if I would have a second cup of tea . I believe I forced myself to eat a slice of bread half as large as my hand . I thought I should never reach home that night , for the weakness that came upon me .