three
o’clock
It seemed to be falling on coffins . She crept back to the fire and held out her hands to a feeble blaze that flickered up , and died out . Why did not Marie come back ? It was three o'clock -- where was Marie ? She looked about her and held out her hands to the blaze and shivered -- there was fire in her veins , and beside her on the hearth the child seemed to crouch and shiver and reach out thin hands to the warmth . Phil had said they would not hurt her ! But what could a man know ?