How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
While for an hour or more the children played, subduedly intent, fertile of imagination, united in fear of the mother's wrath, and in dread of their father's home-coming, Mrs Bates sat in her rocking-chair making a "singlet" of thick cream-coloured flannel, which gave a dull wounded sound as she tore off the grey edge. (1.80)
Even when Elizabeth isn't keeping a close eye on the clock, Lawrence is careful to give us a sense of how much time has elapsed. Apparently everyone was sitting there on pins and needles (but supposedly amusing themselves) for an hour. Yikes.
Quote #5
"It is time for bed," said the mother. (1.86)
The kids' bedtime releases them from the awkwardness/anxiety of sitting with their mother as she fumes/worries about her husband's absence.
Quote #6
The clock struck eight and she rose suddenly, dropping her sewing on her chair. She went to the stairfoot door, opened it, listening. Then she went out, locking the door behind her. (2.1)
Almost four hours after the story began, Elizabeth is giving into her anxiety and going out to look for her husband. Perhaps her attention to the clock suggests that there's something about the length of time he's been gone that gives her more cause to be concerned than she has been typically?