five minutes to eight
Out of the corner of her eyes Janet watched her , rubbing her face vigorously with the towel to conceal her observation . In that moment then , she saw the end of Sally , drew the matter out in her mind , as , with hurried strokes , she might have sketched a passing face upon the slip of paper . `` Well , you run on down to breakfast , '' she said . `` You 'll be late ; it 's five minutes to eight . '' A whole week passed by , and Sally heard no more of Traill . Every day , when she went out to lunch , or left the office after work was over , she looked up and down King Street in the hope , almost the expectation , of seeing him waiting for her to come . Then the expectation died away ; the hope grew fainter and fainter , like a shadow that the sun casts upon the sundial until , at an hour before setting , it is scarcely discernible .