four o'clock in the afternoon
But the attic was dismal beyond words . There were no longer sunsets or sunrises to look at , and scarcely ever any stars , it seemed to Sara . The clouds hung low over the skylight and were either gray or mud-color , or dropping heavy rain . At four o'clock in the afternoon , even when there was no special fog , the daylight was at an end . If it was necessary to go to her attic for anything , Sara was obliged to light a candle . The women in the kitchen were depressed , and that made them more ill-tempered than ever . Becky was driven like a little slave . ''