two o'clock
In other moulds the obedient calf 's foot already announced its willingness and intention to `` gell '' as she directed . Huldah 's decks were cleared again , her kitchen table fit to cut out `` work '' upon , -- all the pans and plates were put away , which accumulate so mysteriously where cooking is going forward ; on its nail hung the weary jigger , on its hook the spicy grater , on the roller a fresh towel . Everything gave sign of victory , the whole kitchen looking only a little nicer than usual . Huldah herself was dressed for the afternoon , and so was the baby ; and nobody but as acute observers as you and I would have known that she had been in action all along the line and had won the battle at every point , when two o'clock came , the earliest moment at which her husband ever returned . Then for the first time it occurred to Huldah to look out doors and see how fast the snow was gathering . She knew it was still falling . But the storm was a quiet one , and she had had too much to do to be gaping out of the windows .