four o'clock
Every nerve in Elizabeth 's body had been stretched to the limit in the production of that meal . Too tired to eat herself , the young wife sat with her baby in her arms and watched the hungry family devour the faultless repast . She might be tired , but the dinner was a success . The next morning , when the usual rising hour of half-past four o'clock came , it seemed to the weary girl that she could not drag herself up to superintend the getting of the breakfast . `` Mother 'll help you with the morning work and you can lie down afterward , '' John assured her when she expressed a half determination not to rise . But after breakfast Mrs. Hunter suggested that they scour the tinware , and the three women put in the spare time of the entire morning polishing and rubbing pans and lids . As they worked , Mrs. Hunter discussed tinware , till not even the shininess of the pans upon which they worked could cover the disappointment of the girl that her mother-in-law should have discovered it in such a neglected condition .