eight o'clock
Usually , I do n't mind 'em a bit , but , I declare , this is a regular rip-snorter ! Edith , bring me -- '' But Mrs. Gray was interrupted by the elements , and for fifteen minutes no one made any further effort to talk ; the rain fell in sheets , the wind gathered greater and greater force , the lightning became constant and blinding , while each clap of thunder seemed nearer and more terrific than the one before it , when finally a deafening roar brought them all suddenly together , shouting frantically , `` That certainly has struck here ! '' It was true ; before they could even reach it , the great north barn was in flames . There was no way of summoning outside help , even if any one could have reached them in such a storm , and the wind was blowing the fire straight in the direction of the house ; in less than an hour , most of the old and rotten outbuildings had burnt like tinder , and the rest had collapsed under the fury of the sweeping gale ; but by eight o'clock the stricken Grays , almost too exhausted and overcome to speak , were beginning to realize that though all their hay and most of their stock were destroyed , a change of wind , combined with their own mighty efforts , had saved the beloved old house ; its window-panes were shattered , and its blinds were torn off , and its fresh paint smoked and defaced with wind-blown sand ; but it was essentially unharmed . The hurricane changed to a steady downpour , the lightning grew dimmer and more distant , and vanished altogether ; and Mrs. Gray , with a firm expression of countenance , in spite of the tears rolling down her cheeks , set about to finish the preparations for supper which the storm had so rudely interrupted three hours earlier . `` Eat an ' keep up your strength , an ' that 'll help to keep up your courage , '' she said , patting her husband on the shoulder as she passed him . `` Here , Katherine , take them biscuits out of the oven ; an ' Molly , go an ' call the boys in ; there ai n't a mite of use in their stayin ' out there any longer . ''