At five in the morning, the fascination that Lymond held for her mother was insignificant and lost on her at that early hour. The time and perhaps her young age rendered any such interest or admiration ineffective against the quiet stillness of the morning. It illustrates the innocence of childhood and how certain emotions or fascinations are fleeting or only significant at specific moments.

The quote underscores the contrast between her mother's fascination with Lymond and the child's inability to comprehend or appreciate the deeper significance of it at that moment. It hints at a perspective rooted in youth or the ordinary routines of life that can overlook even compelling feelings when faced with the simplicity of early morning hours.