eight o'clock in the evening before
He felt himself perishing slowly in unpitied misery . Perhaps he should never see his wife 's face with affection in it again . And if he turned to God there seemed to be no answer but the pressure of retribution . It was eight o'clock in the evening before the door opened and his wife entered . He dared not look up at her . He sat with his eyes bent down , and as she went towards him she thought he looked smaller -- he seemed so withered and shrunken . A movement of new compassion and old tenderness went through her like a great wave , and putting one hand on his which rested on the arm of the chair , and the other on his shoulder , she said , solemnly but kindly -- `` Look up , Nicholas . ''