seven o'clock
They popped corn and strung it in snow-white garlands and some one from the kitchen sent in a bowl of cranberries which were woven into a blood-red necklace for the central branches . Harrison brought round a sack of walnuts and some liquid gilt and two brushes . Men began to quarrel good-naturedly for a chance at the gilding . A woman attendant , hearing about the tree , rode , herself , into the village and bought candles ... Finally it was finished , and it stood in the early twilight of a dripping Christmas Eve , a fantastic captive from the hills , suffering its severe dignity to be melted in a cheap , but human , splendor ... They had a late dinner by way of marking the event , and the usual turn of keys in the locks at seven o'clock was missing . At the close of the meal as they were bringing on plum pudding Fred rose from his place to light the candles ... A little tremor ran through the room ; Monet started to play ... He played all the heartbreaking melodies -- `` Noël '' and `` Nazareth '' and `` Adeste Fideles . '' Slowly the tears began to trickle , but they fell silently , welling up from mysterious reaches too deep for shallow murmurings . Suddenly a thin , quavering voice started a song .