about four o'clock
The station-master , who was , in fact , master , clerk , and porter in one , was as new to his surroundings as the little fresh-smelling pinewood house . He was a young Englishman , and at the first glance it could be seen he had not long been living in his present place . He had , indeed , not yet given up shaving himself , and his clothes , although rough , warm , and suited to his occupation , still suggested , not homespun , but an outfit bought of a tailor . It was about four o'clock on that November afternoon when the new official of the new station looked out at the dark red land and the bright-tinted cloud . It was intensely cold . The ruts of the roads , which were not made of logs here , were frozen stiff . The young man stood a minute at his door with his hands in his pockets , sniffed the frost , and turned in with an air of distaste .