five o'clock
She would not have exchanged the little brown house and what it held , just then , for a king 's palace . Outside in the pitch-darkness of the night the rain beat against the window-panes like some poor beggar imploring to come in ; and inside it was so cosy and bright with the warmth and cheer of home-loves and home-lights that Joyce was not sure , after all , that she could leave such a shelter even to be a guest at the Little Colonel 's house party . It was very early in the morning , while the dew was still on the meadows , that Betty fared forth on her pilgrimage . The old farm wagon that was to take her to the railroad station , two miles away , was drawn up to the door before five o'clock . Davy proudly held the reins while his father carried Betty 's trunk down-stairs . Poor , shabby , little , old leather trunk ! It was not half full , for there had been small preparation for this visit .