six o'clock
The contents of her large valise , which was to have been her own traveling companion in her long journey to and through the `` Great American Desert , '' and which was well packed with several changes of clothes and with small dressing , sewing and writing cases , supplied all her wants during the three months of her further sojourn at Rockhold . She had only now to collect these together , cause all the soiled articles to be laundered , and then repack the valise . This occupied her all the afternoon of the short November day . At six o'clock she came down into the parlor to see that the lamps were trimmed and lighted , and the coal fire stirred up and replenished , so that her grandfather should find the room warm and comfortable on his return home . Then she brought out his dressing gown and slippers , hung the first over his arm chair and put the last on the warm hearthstones . At length the carriage wheels were heard faintly over the soft , wet avenue and under the pouring rain . Old John , waiting in the hall to be ready to open the door in an instant , did so before the Iron King should leave the carriage , and hoisting a very large umbrella , he went out to the carriage door and held it over his master while they walked back to the house and entered the hall .