one o'clock
Herein was marked the most vital difference between Mr. and Mrs. Vertrees and their big new neighbor . Sheridan , though his youth was of the same epoch , knew nothing of such matters . He had been chopping wood for the morning fire in the country grocery while they were still dancing . It was after one o'clock when Mrs. Vertrees heard steps and the delicate clinking of the key in the lock , and then , with the opening of the door , Mary 's laugh , and `` Yes -- if you are n't afraid -- to-morrow ! '' The door closed , and she rushed up-stairs , bringing with her a breath of cold and bracing air into her mother 's room . `` Yes , '' she said , before Mrs. Vertrees could speak , `` he brought me home ! '' She let her cloak fall upon the bed , and , drawing an old red-velvet rocking-chair forward , sat beside her mother after giving her a light pat upon the shoulder and a hearty kiss upon the cheek .