four in the afternoon
There were two or three interesting old prints upon the walls . Altogether , with its small bedroom fireplace laid ready for a fire , and a blue denim-covered woodbox filled to overflowing with more wood -- She had forgotten to fill the woodbox , as yet . It was nearly time to dress for Jeannette 's coming . Georgiana ran hurriedly downstairs and through the kitchen , warm and fragrant with the baking of the day in preparation for the coming supper , and in that pleasant order which the kitchen of the good housewife shows at four in the afternoon . In the woodshed beyond she gathered a great armful of wood , not to bother with the basket , which would not hold so much -- and hurried back again , making toward the front stairs this time , because the back stairs were narrow and steep , and one could not rush up them at great speed with one 's arms full of wood . `` Wait a minute , please , Miss Warne ! '' The front door of the house shut with a bang , and hasty footsteps caught up with Georgiana at the foot of the stairs , just as one big stick tumbled loose from her hold and went crashing down behind her .