four in the afternoon
One afternoon , when the sledges were creaking outside in the cold , and the door too , whenever anybody came in , Mother Taraldsen , who cupped people and applied leeches , and tall Mother Bækken were sitting and enjoying a cup of steaming hot coffee with loaf-sugar . Mother Taraldsen was holding forth on the subject of bad liquids and ruined times , and how every trade was going down-hill , while Mother Bækken , getting more and more full of objections , put her head on one side , and stirred up her cup . `` I can remember a little of the old times too , and I do n't know if they were any better , though every one is welcome to have his opinion , of course , '' here the long , yellow face with the eyes blinking with their own meaning , was laid almost across the cup ; `` but the day has grown longer for workmen now . Just think how they sat in the dark in the farms and cottages with pine-torches in the fireplace to cut and spin by ; and there lay the lads the whole long winter through , and idled and yawned in their beds from three or four in the afternoon until they had to go out with a lantern and see to the horses for the night . But paraffine has got them out of their beds . It 's as if we had the sun the whole winter now , and people can see to earn a few pence . '' `` Yes , but everything has n't got right in that way either , when they sit and play cards and gamble and drink at the public-houses . ''