four o'clock
Now and then some faint sound reached Annabel , vaguely suggestive of the battle which must be waged for every new existence , and each time the sagging body of the woman stiffened , and her breath grew hurried . Once Thad passed her window , his young face set and white , and his eyes reddened as if from weeping . Annabel shrank away fearful that his glance might fall on her , but the fixed eyes of the young husband saw only his wife 's girlish face as he had seen it last , colorless , quivering , undaunted . It was not far from four o'clock when the sound of hurrying feet quickened Annabel 's lagging pulses . A door shut quickly and then another . Some one was hurrying down the hall ; some one who brought news . Annabel found herself on her feet .