three o'clock in the morning
Looking back she saw only a dull glow where the factory had stood and black smoke was rolling thick up into the pure , falling snow . It was fear of Man that haunted Cynthia as she toiled up the hillside ; Man as he had loomed first on her horizon , cruel , seeking , and selfish . When the hard branches of the tree touched her she stifled a scream , for they felt like the demanding hands of Man ; when a hungry animal darted across her path she recoiled , remembering another animal with face and form of Man . It was three o'clock in the morning when Cynthia left The Forge -- though how the hours had passed from nine till three she was never able to explain ; -- it was eight o'clock when she passed Andrew Townley 's cabin and saw smoke curling from his chimney . Sensation was slowly returning to her ; she felt cold , weak , and hungry , but with the senses aroused she realized that she could not go home ! She could not face Ann Walden 's vacant stare , or Sally Taber 's coarse cheerfulness . In all her world she was alone , alone !