two o'clock
And she did not think it was necessary to add that the chair was not all that had been moved . She winced and changed color , however , when her aunt observed : `` Humph ! Must be you 're expectin ' company , Ella . '' It was almost two o'clock when loud voices and the crunch of heavy teams told that the road-breakers had come . All morning the Nortons had been hoping against hope that the fateful hour would pass , and the road be still left in unbroken whiteness . Someone , however , had known his duty too well -- and had done it . `` I set ter work first thing on this road , '' said the man triumphantly to Ella as he stood , shovel in hand , at the door .