midnight
The lights in the day-coach were turned low and the ventilators were open , admitting showers of soot and dust upon the occupants of the narrow green plush chairs which were tilted at various angles of discomfort . In each of these chairs some uncomfortable human being lay drawn up , or stretched out , or writhing from one position to another . There were tired men in rumpled shirts , their necks bare and their suspenders down ; old women with their heads tied up in black handkerchiefs ; bedraggled young women who went to sleep while they were nursing their babies and forgot to button up their dresses ; dirty boys who added to the general discomfort by taking off their boots . The brakeman , when he came through at midnight , sniffed the heavy air disdainfully and looked up at the ventilators . As he glanced down the double rows of contorted figures , he saw one pair of eyes that were wide open and bright , a yellow head that was not overcome by the stupefying heat and smell in the car . `` There 's a girl for you , '' he thought as he stopped by Thea 's chair . `` Like to have the window up a little ? ''