a quarter
after six
He knew , also , that unless it came very soon he could not go on living . It was so dark now that he could hardly see as far as the gate , and his hopes for that day were at an end . He had no objection to retiring at once , he said presently . Katrina dished out the porridge , the evening meal was hurridly eaten , and by a quarter after six they were abed . They dropped off to sleep , too ; but their slumbers were of short duration . The hands of the big Dalecarlian clock had barely got round to six-thirty when Jan sprang out of bed ; he quickly freshened the fire , which was almost burned out , then proceeded to dress himself . Jan tried to be as quiet as possible , but for all that Katrina was awakened ; raising herself in bed she asked if it was already morning .