ten o'clock
Her features , without being more regular , were less coarse than those of François . Although covered with freckles , her complexion was remarkably clear , her lips thick and red , her hair also red , but silky , and her eyes , though small , were of a clear bright blue . When Amandine 's look met that of her brother , she turned a glance towards the door , and then François replied by sigh ; after which , calling his sister 's attention by a slight gesture , he counted with the end of his needle ten loops of the net . This was meant to imply , in the symbolical language of children , that their brother Martial would not return until ten o'clock that evening . Seeing these two women so silent and ill-looking , and the two poor little mute , frightened , uneasy children , we might suppose they were two executioners and two victims . Calabash , perceiving that Amandine had ceased from her occupation for a moment , said , in a harsh tone : `` Come , have n't you done taking the mark out of that shirt ? '' The little girl bowed her head without making any reply , and , by the aid of her fingers and scissors , hastily finished taking out the red cotton threads which marked the letters in the linen .