four o'clock
She could remember nothing but a haze of general misery and confusion , which deepened with every fresh mile , and reached its acutest point at the moment of arriving `` home . '' The landlady was flustered at having to prepare for so hasty a return , and did not scruple to show her displeasure . She took for granted that Claire had had lunch , and the poor girl had not the courage to undeceive her . A telegram was lying on the dining-room table which announced Cecil 's arrival at four o'clock . Claire ordered tea to be ready at that hour , and stretched herself on her bed in the room upstairs which looked so bare and cold , denuded of the beautifying personal touches . She felt incredibly tired , incredibly lonely ; she longed with a very passion of longing for some one of her own , for the dear , beautiful mother , who if she did not always understand , was always ready to love . Oh , it was hard , unnatural work , this fighting the world alone !