about six o'clock
But it would be unjust to show only the dark side of the picture . Great sympathy and kindness was shown them at that time by many earnest and orthodox Christians , and though Raeburn used to accept this sympathy with the remark : `` You see , humanity overcomes the baleful influences of religion in the long run , '' yet he was always touched and pleased by the smallest signs of friendliness ; while to Erica such considerateness was an inestimable help . The haste and confusion of those days , added to the anxiety , told severely on her strength ; but there is this amount of good in a trying bit of `` hurrying life , '' the rest , when it comes , is doubly restful . It was about six o'clock on an August evening when Raeburn and Erica reached the little country town of Firdale . They were to take up their abode for the next six weeks at a village about three miles off , one of the few remaining places in England which maintained its primitive simplicity , its peaceful quiet having never been disturbed by shriek of whistle or snort of engine . The journey from town had been short and easy , but Raeburn was terribly exhausted by it ; he complained of such severe headache that they made up their minds to stay that night at Firdale , and were soon comfortably established in the most charming old inn , which in coaching days had been a place of note . Here they dined , and afterward Raeburn fell asleep on a big old-fashioned sofa , while Erica sat by the open window , able in spite of her anxiety to take a sort of restful interest in watching the traffic in the street below .