four o'clock
It was a fine watch that her father had left to her . By that time it was so dark that we could hardly see the hands on the watch ; and although the day had been warm , I noticed a distinct change in the temperature -- a chill . Somewhere in the woods an owl began to hoot dismally , as owls do at night ; and from a ledge a little distance from the one on which we stood a whippoorwill began to chant . Night was evidently descending on the earth -- at four o'clock of an August afternoon ! We stared round and then looked at each other , bewildered . `` Addison , what do you make of this ! '' I cried .