Five o'clock
`` But it is impossible . There is no riding on horseback through such snow , or I should have gone out myself . '' At length the weary afternoon had worn away . Five o'clock rang through the house from the old French clock at the head of the stair . Zulma had just finished counting the strokes with a feeling of relief when the tinkling of sleigh bells fell upon her ear . She rushed to the window , shot a glance upon the court , uttered an exclamation of joy and ran out of her room . `` No , it can not be , my darling , and in such weather ! ''