nearly four o'clock in the afternoon
Last of all came the parting with her mother . Vixen had postponed this with an aching dread of a scene , in which she might perchance lose her temper , and be betrayed into bitter utterances that she would afterwards repent with useless tears . She had spoken the truth to her stepfather when she told him that she held her mother blameless ; yet the fact that she had but the smallest share in that mother 's heart was cruelly patent to her . It was nearly four o'clock in the afternoon when Pauline came to Violet 's room with a message from Mrs. Winstanley . She had been very ill all the morning , Pauline informed Miss Tempest , suffering severely from nervous headache , and obliged to lie in a darkened room . Even now she was barely equal to seeing anyone . `` Then she had better not see me , '' said Vixen icily ; `` I can write her a little note to say good-bye .