five o'clock
If they lasted a single minute beyond that time something inside her head would snap . Knock -- knock -- knock ; scrape -- scrape ; the thud of something thrown down . She felt her breath coming fast as she waited for the moment when her aching senses would be lulled by the cessation of it all -- when she would rest on a blissful silence . `` Thank God , it 's five o'clock ! '' she said , flinging down her duster . `` Yes . The men will be leaving work now , '' said Mrs. Bradford .