four o'clock
Sometimes she fancied that she heard their bones rattling at night , as they crowded together , muttering their terrible secrets . But the idea only amused her ; it did not make her morbid , although there was little but her own will to keep her spirits on a plane where there was more light than bog . It was a very grey and rainy winter . She was forced to spend the afternoons after four o'clock in idleness : Don Roberto himself turned off the gas every morning before he went down town , and on again at seven in the evening . The meals in the dining-room , naturally the darkest room in the house , were eaten in absolute silence . In fact , it was seldom that anyone spoke except on Mrs. Yorba 's reception day . Herself wore the air of a stoic .