six o'clock
It was but about a mile and a half to Broxton over the opposite slope , and their road wound very pleasantly along lanes and across fields , where the pale woodbines and the dog-roses were scenting the hedgerows , and the birds were twittering and trilling in the tall leafy boughs of oak and elm . It was a strangely mingled picture -- the fresh youth of the summer morning , with its Edenlike peace and loveliness , the stalwart strength of the two brothers in their rusty working clothes , and the long coffin on their shoulders . They paused for the last time before a small farmhouse outside the village of Broxton . By six o'clock the task was done , the coffin nailed down , and Adam and Seth were on their way home . They chose a shorter way homewards , which would take them across the fields and the brook in front of the house . Adam had not mentioned to Seth what had happened in the night , but he still retained sufficient impression from it himself to say , `` Seth , lad , if Father is n't come home by the time we 've had our breakfast , I think it 'll be as well for thee to go over to Treddles ` on and look after him , and thee canst get me the brass wire I want . Never mind about losing an hour at thy work ; we can make that up .