four o'clock
`` Thank God ! Thank God ! '' As she wept upon his shoulder , he told her where he had been , what perils he had met , how he had been saved , and how he had arrived the first moment he could ; and then he went on to declare that their enemies would soon be disposed of , that they would be married , that they would take possession of Peder 's house , and make him comfortable , and would never be separated again as long as they lived . They did not heed the time , as they talked and talked ; and Rolf was just telling how he had more than once seen a double sun , without finding any remarkable consequences follow , when Stiorna came forth with her milk-pails , just before four o'clock . She started and dropped one of her pails , when she saw who was sitting on the bench ; and Erica started no less at the thought of how completely she had forgotten the cattle and the underground people all this time . The herd was all safe , however , -- every cow as large as life , and looking exactly like itself ; so that the good fortune of this Midsummer Eve had been perfect . The appearance of Stiorna reminded the lovers that it was time to begin the business of the morning .