nearly four o'clock
The sun was very hot . The road seemed miles long . Every now and then Mell had to let them sit down to rest . It was nearly four o'clock when they reached home ; and , long before that , Mell was so weary and discouraged that it seemed as if she should like to lie down and die . They got home at last . Mell 's hand was on the garden gate , when suddenly a sight so terrible met her eyes that she stood rooted to the spot , unable to move an inch further . There in the doorway was Mrs. Davis .