nine o'clock
Calmness settled upon her . For with absolute despair came a peace -- a numbness that left her insensible to anything save the fact that she must be brave for Clifford 's sake -- that he was alone , and she of all his kindred was there to give him comfort . So Peggy prepared for the ordeal before her . The execution was to take place at nine o'clock . Long before that hour the people from the countryside gathered . A great concourse of farmers , and citizens from the near-by farms and villages , all conversant with the details of the affair , came to see the unfortunate victim . Peggy saw none of them as she went with leaden feet to the guard-house .