`` I guess it will be as much use to me as to any one else , '' said Cecily indignantly . She had sacrificed her dear forget-me-not jug to satisfy some pang of conscience , or propitiate some threatening fate , but surrender her precious cherry vase she could not and would not . Felicity need n't be giving any hints ! With the gathering shades of night our plight became pitiful . In the daylight , surrounded by homely , familiar sights and sounds , it was not so difficult to fortify our souls with a cheering incredulity . But now , in this time of shadows , dread belief clutched us and wrung us with terror . If there had been one wise older friend to tell us , in serious fashion , that we need not be afraid , that the Enterprise paragraph was naught save the idle report of a deluded fanatic , it would have been well for us . But there was not . Our grown-ups , instead , considered our terror an exquisite jest . At that very moment , Aunt Olivia , who had recovered from her headache , and Aunt Janet were laughing in the kitchen over the state the children were in because they were afraid the end of the world was close at hand . Aunt Janet 's throaty gurgle and Aunt Olivia 's trilling mirth floated out through the open window . `` Perhaps they 'll laugh on the other side of their faces to-morrow , '' said Dan , with gloomy satisfaction . We were sitting on the cellar hatch , watching what might be our last sunset o'er the dark hills of time . Peter was with us . It was his last Sunday to go home , but he had elected to remain . `` If to-morrow is the Judgment Day I want to be with you fellows , '' he said . Sara Ray had also yearned to stay , but could not because her mother had told her she must be home before dark . `` Never mind , Sara , '' comforted Cecily . `` It 's not to be till two o'clock to-morrow , so you 'll have plenty of time to get up here before anything happens . '' `` But there might be a mistake , '' sobbed Sara .
`` It might be two o'clock to-night instead XXXXX to-morrow . ''
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