four o'clock
She returned to the house , a picture of offended dignity , but carefully left the door ajar for Ruth , who discovered , upon this rude awakening from her reverie , that she was very hungry . In the afternoon , the chill fog made it impossible to go out , for the wind had risen from the sea and driven the salt mist inland . Miss Hathaway 's library was meagre and uninteresting , Hepsey was busy in the kitchen , and Ruth was frankly bored . Reduced at last to the desperate strait of putting all her belongings in irreproachable order , she found herself , at four o'clock , without occupation . The temptation in the attic wrestled strongly with her , but she would not go . It seemed an age until six o'clock . `` This wo n't do , '' she said to herself ; `` I 'll have to learn how to sew , or crochet , or make tatting .