five o'clock
She thought she perceived a slight improvement in the symptoms during the night , and she was a little pleased that this progress should have been made while she reigned monarch of the sick-room . Yes , certainly there was an improvement . There was more consciousness in the look of the eyes , although the whole countenance still retained its painful traces of acute suffering , manifested in an anxious , startled , uneasy aspect . It was broad morning light , though barely five o'clock , when Miss Benson caught the sight of Ruth 's lips moving , as if in speech . Miss Benson stooped down to listen . `` Who are you ? '' asked Ruth , in the faintest of whispers .