about
three o’clock
` So my papa and grandpapa say , ' returned Miss Fordyce ; ` but the last Mr. Winslow was not a very nice man , and never would be civil to us . ' A report was brought that the glare of the fire could be seen over the hill from the top of the house , and off went the two young ladies to the leads , after satisfying themselves that Anne was asleep among her homeless dolls . Old Mr. Fordyce devoted himself to keeping up the spirits of his daughter-in-law as the night advanced without any tidings , except that the girls , from time to time , rushed down to tell us of fresh outbursts of red flame reflected in the sky , then that the glow was diminishing ; by which time they were tired out , and , both sinking into a big armchair , they went to sleep in each other 's arms . Indeed I believe we all dozed more or less before any one returned from the scene of action -- at about three o'clock . The struggle with the flames had been very unequal . The long tongues soon reached the roof of the large barn , which was filled with straw , nor could the flakes of burning thatch be kept from the stable , while the water of the pond was soon reduced to mud . Helpers began to flock in , but who could tell which were trustworthy ?