three minutes
past six
Anna Akimovna raised herself on her elbow and glanced towards the window . It was still quite dark outside , and only the lower edge of the window-frame was white with snow . She could hear a low , mellow chime of bells ; it was not the parish church , but somewhere further away . The watch on the little table showed three minutes past six . `` Very well , Masha ... . In three minutes ... '' said Anna Akimovna in an imploring voice , and she snuggled under the bed-clothes . She imagined the snow at the front door , the sledge , the dark sky , the crowd in the church , and the smell of juniper , and she felt dread at the thought ; but all the same , she made up her mind that she would get up at once and go to early service .