four o'clock
Shaken like an aspen in a storm , Miriam lighted her candle and stared into the shadows . Nothing was there . The clock ticked steadily -- almost maddeningly . It was just four o'clock . She , too , opened the lower drawer of the dresser and thrust her hand under the clothing . The letters were still there . She drew them out , her hands trembling , and read the superscriptions with difficulty , for the words danced , and made themselves almost illegible .