about five o'clock
There was another and scarcely less serious phase of the situation which Mr. and Mrs. Merrill had yet to discuss between them -- a phase of which Miss Lucretia Penniman knew nothing . The day before Miss Sadler 's school was to reopen nearly a week before the Harvard term was to commence -- a raging , wet snowstorm came charging in from the Atlantic . Snow had no terrors for a Coniston person , and Cynthia had been for her walk . Returning about five o'clock , she was surprised to have the door opened for her by Susan herself . `` What a picture you are in those furs ! '' she cried , with an intention which for the moment was lost upon Cynthia . `` I thought you would never come .