five o'clock
There were four or five tons of it , all of which we wanted to put into the barn before night , for , though the forenoon was bright and clear , we could hear distant rumblings ; and there were other signs that foul weather was coming . The old Squire sent Ellen over to summon Elder Witham to help us ; if the rain held off until nightfall , we hoped to have the hay inside the barn . At noon , while we were having luncheon , grandmother Ruth asked at what time we expected to have the last load ready to go in . `` Not before five o'clock , '' Asa replied . `` It has all to be raked yet . '' `` Well , I shall be down there by that time , '' she said in a very matter-of-fact tone . `` I 'll bring the girls with me . ''