Ten o'clock
If the rest of the country-side was wild with war or the rumours of war , the Sarpy mansion lay in the bliss of a profound unconsciousness . Suddenly Zulma moved about in her seat , and rolled her head from side to side on the chair , as if a vision was flitting before her and the light of the hearthstone . She slowly opened her eyes , closed them again tightly in order to strengthen their force , and opened them a second time . Ten o'clock struck . She had been resting for two hours . It was time that she should rise and retire to her room . She sat up erect and , in doing so , looked directly forward again .