four o'clock
The boy knew that the word of farewell was not for him but for all that the man was leaving -- friends , memories , the place that he had loved in his strange , crooked way , all that he was putting behind him forever . A bell rang , a voice shouted the unintelligible something that stands for `` All aboard , '' the train ground into motion , and he was gone . Almost every one in Medford Valley must have slept that morning through the long hours until far past noon . But by four o'clock Oliver had slumbered all his weariness away , and so had Janet . They were restless after their excitement of the night before , and they found the house very still and with Cousin Jasper nowhere visible . They went out to the garage , got into the car , and set off along the familiar way toward the Windy Hill . `` Just to see if they are there , '' as Oliver said to Janet .