ten o'clock
He dreamed strange , troubled dreams that melted away before he could seize on them , and finally he thought his sister stood before him and called . The impression was so vivid that he started up , staring at the empty room . For an instant he still thought he heard a voice , and then he knew it was the old clock striking the hour . It was ten o'clock . `` Natty 's just a-crossin ' the State line , '' he said aloud The text-ornament caught his eye . Still half asleep , with his sister 's long-forgotten voice ringing in his ears , he remembered vaguely that he had meant to bring the second text to light . For a moment he hesitated , and then , `` Well , it 's come true for Natty , anyhow , '' he thought .