three
o'clock
But it was too late to modify or postpone , and the proceedings went on . At twelve o'clock the rain began to fall , small and steady , commencing and increasing so insensibly that it was difficult to state exactly when dry weather ended or wet established itself . In an hour the slight moisture resolved itself into a monotonous smiting of earth by heaven , in torrents to which no end could be prognosticated . A number of people had heroically gathered in the field but by three o'clock Henchard discerned that his project was doomed to end in failure . The hams at the top of the poles dripped watered smoke in the form of a brown liquor , the pig shivered in the wind , the grain of the deal tables showed through the sticking tablecloths , for the awning allowed the rain to drift under at its will , and to enclose the sides at this hour seemed a useless undertaking . The landscape over the river disappeared ; the wind played on the tent-cords in aeolian improvisations , and at length rose to such a pitch that the whole erection slanted to the ground those who had taken shelter within it having to crawl out on their hands and knees . But towards six the storm abated , and a drier breeze shook the moisture from the grass bents .