six o’clock
Slowly , slowly , the clock recorded the lapse of minutes . Carmina 's nervous anxiety began to forecast disaster to the absent nurse . She took Teresa 's telegram from her pocket , and consulted it again . There was no mistake ; six o'clock was the time named for the traveller 's arrival -- and it was close on ten minutes past the hour . In her ignorance of railway arrangements , she took it for granted that trains were punctual . But her reading had told her that trains were subject to accident . `` I suppose delays occur , '' she said to Benjulia , `` without danger to the passengers ? ''