two o'clock
It had stopped . She had forgotten to wind it up , which omission indicated that the grocer had perturbed her more than she thought . She could not be sure how long she had slept . The hour might be two o'clock or it might be six o'clock . Impossible for her to rest ! She got up and dressed -LRB- in case it should be as late as she feared -RRB- and crept down the interminable creaking stairs with the candle . As she descended , the conviction that it was the middle of the night grew upon her , and she stepped more softly .