five in
the afternoon
This morning , however , when Nick called from the road , he was told that Lizzie had been gone some time , so he drove on without her . The dwelling of Mr. Kilgore stood so far back that Nellie never could spare the time to walk up the long lane and back again , but she contented herself with peering up the tree-lined avenue in quest of Sallie and Bobby Kilgore . However , they were also invisible , and so it was that Nellie made the rest of the journey alone . The distance being so considerable , Nellie and Nick always carried their dinners with them , so that , after their departure in the morning , the parents did not expect to see them again until between four and five in the afternoon . The roan mare was young and spirited , but not vicious , and the boy had no trouble in controlling her . When half way through the stretch of woods they crossed a bridge , whose planks rattled so loudly under the wheels and hoofs that the animal showed a disposition to rear and plunge over the narrow railing at the side . But the boy used his whip so vigorously that he quickly tamed the beast , which was not slow to understand that her master was holding the reins .