a quarter to one
Another shout of mirth made the rafters ring , and the trio laughed till they cried , much to Peace 's surprise , for the scene she had just depicted had caused her much indignation , and she could see nothing funny about it . `` If you do n't be stiller you 'll wake the children , '' she warned them in her most grandmotherly tones , and they sobered quickly , remembering the ghost of trouble hovering over the little house . For a long time they sat there in silence , each one busy with her own disturbed thoughts , unaware that the fire in the stove had died out , or that the chimes had long since struck midnight . Suddenly Gail lifted her eyes from the hole in the carpet , at which she had been staring unseeingly , glanced at the old clock on the wall , and exclaimed , `` Girls , it 's a quarter to one ! Fly into bed , every one of you ! School keeps tomorrow just the same . Try to lay aside this trouble at least for tonight and get a little sleep .