ten o'clock
From stores in the attic the mother produced pieces of whole cloth , and Janice was set at work on dresses and underclothes to resupply their depleted wardrobes . Not content with this , Mrs. Meredith drew from the same source unspun wool and unhatchelled flax , and the girl was put to spinning both into thread and yarn , that Peg might weave them into cloth , against the need of winter . From five in the morning till eight at night there was occupation for all ; and so tired was the maiden that she gladly enough heard her mother 's decree that their small supply of candles should not be used , but that they should go to bed with the sun . They were thus already asleep by ten o'clock one August evening , when there came a gentle knocking on the back door , which , after several repetitions , ceased , but only to be resumed a moment later on the front one . Neither summons receiving any attention , a succession of pebbles were thrown against Janice 's window , finally bringing the sleeper back to wakefulness . Her first feeling , as she became conscious of the cause , was one of fear , and her instinct was to pay no attention to the outsider . After one or two repetitions , however , of the disquieting taps , she stole to the window , and , keeping herself hidden , peeped out .