the hour of five before
It would have taken a far more captious critic than the pretty widow to find fault with the large , high-ceilinged room in which she sat . The handsome carved Venetian furniture , the rich hangings and valuable paintings on the walls gave evidence of Colonel McIntyre 's artistic taste and appreciation of the beautiful . Mrs. Brewster had never failed , during her visit to the McIntyre twins , to examine the rare curios in the carved cabinets and the tapestries on the walls , but that afternoon , with one eye on the clock and the other on her embroidery , she sat waiting in growing impatience for the interruption she anticipated . The hands of the clock had passed the hour of five before the buzz of a distant bell brought her to her feet . Hurrying to the window she peeped between the curtains in time to see a stylish roadster electric glide down the driveway leading from the McIntyre residence and stop at the curb . As she turned to go back to her chair Dr. Stone was ushered into the library by the footman . Mrs. Brewster welcomed her cousin with frank relief .