four o’clock
Moreover , a cold thaw set in , and the house grew icy , so that they moved about it with chattering teeth , and at night , ill-nurtured as they were , could scarce keep the life in them beneath all the coverings which they had . Ah ! how long were those nights , with never a blaze upon the hearth or so much as a candle to light them . At four o'clock the darkness came down , which did not lessen , for the moon grew low and the mists were thick , until day broke about seven on the following morning . And all this time , fearing attack , they must keep watch and ward through the gloom , so that even sleep was denied them . For a while they bore up bravely , even the tenants , though news was shouted to these that their steads had been harried , and their wives and children hunted off to seek shelter where they might . Cicely and Emlyn never murmured .