four o'clock
Laura sat motionless , watching the winding road , which , like a long , undulating ribbon , led up the declivity out of the valley . Straining her eyes , she tried to make out the little cloud of dust that would warn her of John 's approach . She wondered what detained him . He said he would come at four o'clock , and now it was nearly five . Yet , perhaps , it was just as well . It would hardly do for the men to meet until she had had her talk with Will . The critical moment had come .