eight o'clock
She wanted to know exactly how Philip 's mother made those cakes . She could not be happy until she succeeded . Here appeared an old trait of the girl Ruey -- almost a fault : settled persistency in accomplishing her ends , a determination to walk over all obstacles , however large . It took much lively stirring about to accomplish it , but the house was put in order , and Mrs. Thorne reached the depot in time for the eight o'clock train ; the happy Joanna being dismissed to her home for a week , after carrying her mistress 's satchel to the depot . Mrs. Thorne had visited the old homestead with her husband at the time of their marriage , and looked forward with real pleasure at the prospect before her . `` Wo n't they be surprised , though , to see me coming without Philip , '' and then she smiled to think how she was whizzing along in one direction , and Philip in another , while he thought her snug at home . There was a spice of adventure about this going off by herself that she enjoyed exceedingly .