five in the afternoon
Die hard . '' Bobby yawned . _ District Messenger 3457 _ The home of District Messenger 3457 , who was known in private life as Bobby Wentworth , was what is technically called a basement kitchen . Take it between four and five in the afternoon , which was a couple of hours before Bobby was expected home , and in consequence , at least an hour and a half before anything was astir in the way of supper , things got sort of lonesome looking and dull to Sis , daughter of the house . Ten to one that the baby -- the tow-headed youngest -- was a bit fussy ; ten to one the mother gave you a sharp answer if you spoke to her , though , considering everything , she was remarkably patient ; ten to one that every torn and cracked thing in the room became so conspicuous that you felt like a poor lone orphan girl and wanted to cry . If you did n't live below the sidewalk this was apt to go on until it was time to get supper , but here , in order to see to do the mending , the lamp was lighted , even in May , an hour or so earlier than the fire . Then what a change !