eight o’clock
He believed in her again as he believed in the smart new winter overcoat that he wore -- as he believed in the dainty little cane -LRB- appropriate to the dawning dandyism of lads in their teens -RRB- that he flourished in his hand . He hummed ! The worn-out old creature , who had not sung since his childhood , hummed , as he paced the platform , the few fragments he could remember of a worn-out old song . The train was due as early as eight o'clock that night . At five minutes past the hour the whistle sounded . In less than five minutes more the passengers were getting out on the platform . Following the instructions that had been given to him , Mr. Bashwood made his way , as well as the crowd would let him , along the line of carriages , and , discovering no familiar face on that first investigation , joined the passengers for a second search among them in the custom-house waiting-room next .