six o'clock
She learned to know the people who appeared in the street between the hours of four and six so accurately that she could have described them blindfold . There was the oldfaced little girl who delivered milk ; there was the postman who emptied into his canvas receptacle , the blue letter-box affixed to the opposite wall ; the student with the gashed face and red cap , who lived a couple of doors further down , and always whistled the same tune ; the big Newfoundland dog that stalked majestically at his side , and answered to the name of Tasso -- she knew them all . These two last hours were weighted with lead . He came , sometimes a poor half-hour too soon , but usually not till past six o'clock . Never , in her life , had she waited for anyone like this , and , towards the end of the time , a sense of injury , of more than mortal endurance , would steal through her and dull her heart towards him , in a way that frightened her . When , at length , she saw him turn the corner , when she had caught and answered his swift upward glance , she drew back into the shadow of the room , and hid her face in her hands . Then she listened .