I agreed perforce; but I kept her talking of many things in the library for more than an hour; so that at last, when she insisted on going back to her father's room I felt that I had at least done something to help her pass the time.
We found the three men sitting patiently in silence.

With manlike fortitude they were content to be still when they felt they had done all in their power.

And so we waited.
The striking of two o'clock seemed to freshen us all up.

Whatever shadows had been settling over us during the long hours preceding seemed to lift at once; and we went about our separate duties alert and with alacrity.

We looked first to the windows to see that they were closed, and we got ready our respirators to put them on when the time should be close at hand.