ten o'clock
One , two , three , four -- a great lot of ye . As I was saying , be ready to come up to the county house till I can get some folks to take ye in to keep till ye are of age . '' `` The priest , sir , '' said Paul , `` promised to call to-day ; and as he already has left us a good sum of money , I know the good man will provide for us till he writes to my uncle , who would be very sorry to hear of our going to the poorhouse or the county house , though it may be a better place . '' `` My young lad , you will be provided for by law , and do n't fail to be ready by ten o'clock , '' said the official , sternly , as he left the room . In a few hours after , the body of the widow O'Clery was deposited in a rough , unplaned pine coffin , and placed on board a two-horse , open sleigh . The four orphans were stowed around in the same vehicle , and , in care of a constable , the _ cortege _ drove off at full speed to the cemetery . By half past eleven , the remains of the widow were consigned to their kindred earth , the few lumps of hard frozen clay on the surface her only monument -- the sobs , sighs , and prayers of her own dear children the only requiem uttered over her lowly and soon-to-be-forgotten tomb .