seven o'clock
His large hands , black with hair and sunburn , stroked his knees as he stooped smilingly forward and asked if she would have him . She sat lower than he did ; her full figure and plump arms were set off by a brown dress , which he stared down on when he did not look into her pale face . She felt each movement of his eyes . She had come from the other room , and from thoughts of death ; she heard a little cuckoo clock upstairs announce that it was seven o'clock , and the little thing reminded her of all that was now past . One thing with another made her turn from him with tears in her eyes as she said , `` I can not possibly think of such things how . '' She rose and walked towards her flowers in the window . He was obliged to rise also .