Eight o'clock
`` I wonder : ` Is it I who write to thee , or thou to me ? ' '' Despite her midnight vigil , Grace rose before seven o'clock the next morning . On the previous afternoon Jean had stated that he would come early to Mrs. Gray 's the following morning to bid them farewell before starting on his search for Tom . Eight o'clock found herself and Elfreda Briggs walking rapidly up Chapel Hill . They found the old hunter had stolen a march on them , however . When they entered the library he was already there , in earnest conversation with Mrs. Gray . `` I hav ' wait for you , '' he said , after bidding them a quaint _ bon jour _ .