ten minutes before five
One that we love may go upon battle-ground , and we are ready for the worst : we have said our good-bys ; our hearts wait and pray : it is his life , not his death , which is the surprise . But that he should go out to his safe , daily , commonplace occupations , unnoticed and uncaressed , -- scolded a little , perhaps , because he leaves the door open , and tells us how cross we are this morning ; and they bring him up the steps by and by , a mangled mass of death and horror , -- that is hard . Old Martyn , working at Meg Match 's shoes , -- she was never to wear those shoes , poor Meg ! -- heard , at ten minutes before five , what he thought to be the rumble of an earthquake under his very feet , and stood with bated breath , waiting for the crash . As nothing further appeared to happen , he took his stick and limped out into the street . A vast crowd surged through it from end to end . Women with white lips were counting the mills , -- Pacific , Atlantic , Washington , -- Pemberton ?