four o’clock
What did they fear ? Now and again one or the other would rise , stretch himself , and then , resume his place . However , they did not speak ; it was as if they dared not say anything , and thus the heavy silence grew more and more terrible . When it was a few minutes to four o'clock Mere-Grand felt weary , or else desired to collect her thoughts . After another glance at the timepiece , she let her needlework fall on her lap and turned towards the basilica . It seemed to her that she had only enough strength left to wait ; and she remained with her eyes fixed on the huge walls and the forest of scaffolding which rose over yonder with such triumphant pride under the blue sky . Then all at once , however brave and firm she might be , she could not restrain a start , for `` La Savoyarde '' had raised a joyful clang .