four in the morning
They were all so happy ! Perhaps it was that made them too much ` celebrate , ' as the Americans say in their dialect . Well , alas ! they celebrated until four in the morning , and then my two dear young Russians -- for I loved Khostov as a sister , so devoted he was to my friend -- well , they started -- on foot -- for home , and that was on the other side of the Neva . They had almost crossed the bridge when they suddenly took it into their heads that they wanted to see their friends again , and started back . Alas , in the middle of the bridge was a section that opened to permit the passage of boats with tall masts . The night was dark and stormy .