three o'clock in the afternoon
`` High , chile , ` twould be too late to scold arterward . Wot I sez is , do you ' scoldin ' an ' yo ' whippin ' ` fo ' dere 's any cause fer it -- ` taint no good to do it arterward ; ` two n't ondo nuffin ' wot 's done , '' said Henny ; but her wisdom was lost on the party , who had already started on their way , aunt and niece riding double , and Dan walking beside the horse . Their way lay over snow-covered ground , through bare woods , up and down rolling hills , and over frozen streams . It was three o'clock in the afternoon when they emerged from the last piece of woods and entered upon a cultivated clearing , in which stood an old-fashioned farmhouse , with a steep roof with gable ends , dormer windows , and wide porches , surrounded by its barn , granaries and negro quarters . As Miss Grandiere pulled up at the horse block before the door , a lady , tall , stately , handsome , with a fair complexion , blue eyes and brown hair , very like Miss Grandiere herself , and handsomely dressed in a puce-colored silk pelisse , and a beaver bonnet , appeared at the door , and said : `` You have n't time to stop , Sukey . Sally and the children are all well , and are in the storeroom picking over apples . You can see them when we come home this evening ; but now we must hurry ; so you just get down and set the child in your seat , and let Dan lead the horse , and we will walk through the woods to Miss Sibby 's .