twelve o'clock
She shut the door behind her without making the least sound ; she then lit a little lamp , which was much cheaper than gas , saw that it burned trim and bright , and set it on the center-table in the kitchen . The night was bitterly cold ; the fog had been followed by a heavy frost . Grannie could hear the sharp ringing sound of some horses ' feet as they passed by , carrying their burdens to the different markets . It was long past twelve o'clock . The little kitchen was warm , for the stove had burned merrily all day . Grannie opened the door of the stove now and looked in . `` Shall I , or shall I not , put on an extry shovelful of coals ? ''