ten o'clock
Then going into the yard , she called to Tom Ocock , who sat whittling a stick in front of his father 's house ; and Tom went down to Main Street for her , and bought a mattress which he carried home on his shoulder . This she spread on the bedroom floor , Mrs. Hemmerde having already given both rooms a sound scouring , just in case a flea or a spider should be lying perdu . After which Polly fell to baking again in good earnest ; for the travellers would be famished by the time they arrived . Towards ten o'clock Tom , who was on the look-out , shouted that the coach was in , and Polly , her table spread , a good fire going , stepped to the door , outwardly very brave , inwardly all a-flutter . Directly , however , she got sight of the forlorn party that toiled up the slope : Sarah clinging to Hempel 's arm , Mahony bearing one heavy child , and -- could she believe her eyes ? -- Jerry staggering under the other : her bashfulness was gone . She ran forward to prop poor Sarah on her free side , to guide her feet to the door ; and it is doubtful whether little Polly had ever spent a more satisfying hour than that which followed .