Four o'clock
Once and again she shrank at the thought of imperilling his love by her confession : for love was what she needed -- it would take the glow of passion to weld together the shattered fragments of her self-esteem . But she recurred to Gerty 's words and held fast to them . She was sure that Gerty knew Selden 's feeling for her , and it had never dawned upon her blindness that Gerty 's own judgment of him was coloured by emotions far more ardent than her own . Four o'clock found her in the drawing-room : she was sure that Selden would be punctual . But the hour came and passed -- it moved on feverishly , measured by her impatient heart-beats . She had time to take a fresh survey of her wretchedness , and to fluctuate anew between the impulse to confide in Selden and the dread of destroying his illusions . But as the minutes passed the need of throwing herself on his comprehension became more urgent : she could not bear the weight of her misery alone .