About 4 o'clock
She knew not why , but it seemed unusually lonely without him . She seldom went out alone , but to-night she had gone out as much to while away the time as to hear the music . After paying her usual visit to the nursery , she went to bed , but slept little for several hours . About 4 o'clock she was awakened by stifling fumes of smoke and startling cries of fire . Was it too late ? She sprang up and ran to the nursery stairs , but the scorching flames met her , and she retreated to the window , shrieking for help , only to get a glimpse of someone through the smoke climbing toward her . `` Hold on ! ''