eight o'clock
The backwater was not a happy place -- they would not stay there a single minute . And more swiftly than ever she flew on along the path . Soon she had crossed the bridge , sent off her message , and returned . But there were ten hours to get through before eight o'clock , and she did not hurry now . She wanted this day of summer to herself alone , a day of dreaming till he came ; this day for which all her life till now had been shaping her -- the day of love . Fate was very wonderful ! If she had ever loved before ; if she had known joy in her marriage -- she could never have been feeling what she was feeling now , what she well knew she would never feel again .