ten o'clock
There was a piano in the living room , and Stella and Clay went to it , and while Clay played the violin , Stella accompanied him . Lively airs were demanded , and the ranch house fairly rang with the clapping of feet as Bud and Carl and Kit danced reels and jigs and cake walks , and the laughter of the boys at Bud 's jokes and Carl 's lingual mistakes . But at last they became tired of music . It was ten o'clock , and the major disappeared for a few minutes , then entered , leading the way for the two Chinamen , who bore between them baskets of rosy apples , dishes of nuts and raisins and candies , and pitchers of cider . Although the day had been warm enough in the sun , the night was cool , and the fire that leaped high in the fireplace made the room cozy and comfortable , and one could well imagine that outside was the snow glistening under the stars , and hear the far-away jingle of the sleigh bells . They sat around the fireplace eating apples and cracking nuts , talking nonsense and laughing at Bud 's comic antics , until even Farnsworth relaxed from the air of anxiety he had borne all evening , and once or twice laughed . But Bud kept his eye on him , for he was distrustful of him , and believed that he was up to some trick .