nearly five o'clock
`` Phillis ! Simon ! '' called a sweet-toned voice from the foot of the back staircase ; `` are you up ? It 's high time ; nearly five o'clock now , and the train 's due at six . '' `` Coming , ma'am . I 'll have time to do up all my chores and git to the depot ` fore de train ; you neber fear , '' replied a colored lad of fifteen or sixteen , hurrying down as he spoke . A matronly woman , belonging to the same race , followed close in his rear .