five o'clock
That adorable sweep of lash that all mothers of boys know , that air of dignity and innocence that makes you forget the day and its doings and undoings and think only , this is a man child , a wonderful creature of God , beloved and strong , a gift of heaven , a wonder in daytime , a creature to be afraid of sometimes , but weak in sleep , _ adorable ! _ Billy slept . The afternoon train lumbered in with two freight cars behind , and a lot of crates and boxes to manipulate , but Billy slept . The five o'clock train slid in and the evening express with its toll of guests for the Lake Hotel who hustled off wearily , cheerily , and on to the little Lake train that stood with an expectant insolent air like a necessary evil waiting for a tip . The two trains champed and puffed and finally scampered away , leaving echoes all along the valley , and a red stream of sun down the track behind them from a sky aflame in the west preparing for a brilliant sunset . The red fingers of the sun touched the freckles on Billy 's cheek lightly as if to warn him that the time had come . The shutters slammed on at the little station .