about eleven o’clock in the morning
Shortly after the birth of his child , Captain O'Grady 's regiment was ordered to Chambly , and he was obliged to separate from his wife for a time . He used to drive in occasionally to Montreal to visit her , but at this season of the year the roads were very bad , and , as the thermometer sometimes fell 20 or even 30 degrees below zero , the journey was usually attended with much discomfort and even some danger . On Christmas Day , Mrs. O'Grady wished her husband to remain at Chambly and dine at the mess , but he insisted on coming into Montreal and dining with his family . He accordingly set out about eleven o'clock in the morning , accompanied by a brother officer named Churchill , a lieutenant in the same regiment . It was a bitterly cold day , and the snow , which had been falling heavily for some days , was blown in immense drifts across the roads , rendering them almost impassable . The groom , being accustomed to obey , brought the horses round with alacrity when ordered to do so , but he shook his head ominously as he handed the reins to Captain O'Grady , and jumped into the dickey . Off they flew through the blinding snowdrifts , the fine horses going at a tremendous speed , and threatening to overthrow the sleigh every instant .