three o'clock
The entrance to the warm air inside promptly turned the crystals still adhering to the interstices of the knit garments into glittering drops of water . Bobby made tiny little puddles where he disrobed -- to his delight and Amanda 's disgust . The damp clothes were hung to dry behind the kitchen stove , and Bobby sat down to a tremendous lunch . After lunch Bobby went out-doors again , but the novelty had worn off and his main thought was one of impatience for three o'clock to release his friends from school . The snow was not yet packed well enough to make the sleighing very good , but everybody in town was out . Cutters , their thills to one side so the driver could see past the horse ; two-seated higher sleighs ; the gorgeous plumed and luxurious conveyances of the élite -- all these streamed by , packing the street every moment into a better and better surface . And then , before Bobby had realized it could be so late , a first , faint , long-drawn and peculiar shout began far away ; grew steadily in volume .