four o'clock
After an hour had passed by Dreda was almost more miserable than Norah , who had passed into a dull stupor from which she was aroused only by occasional darting pains . She lay with closed eyes , refusing to speak , but clutching with both hands at Dreda 's dress as if even in her semi-unconsciousness the terror of movement still remained , and the cold mist crept nearer and nearer , shutting out the landscape like a heavy screen . Dreda looked at the little watch strapped round her wrist , and saw that the hands pointed to three o'clock . In these short winter days it was often necessary to ring for lamps before four o'clock -- only another hour of daylight , and then ! What would happen if no help came within the next hour ? Would they have to spend the night together -- Norah and she ? Out in that lonely path ?