six o'clock
But at last the cabs were packed with luggage , and into one got Gertrude with her husband , her baby , and her mother ; and into the other Charley handed Linda , then Alley , and lastly , the youthful maiden , who humbly begged his pardon as she stepped up to the vehicle ; and then , having given due directions to the driver , he not without difficulty squeezed himself into the remaining space . Such journeys as these are always made at a slow pace . Cabmen know very well who must go fast , and who may go slow . Women with children going on board an emigrant vessel at six o'clock on a February morning may be taken very slowly . And very slowly Gertrude and her party were taken . Time had been -- nay , it was but the other day -- when Alaric 's impatient soul would have spurned at such a pace as this . But now he sat tranquil enough .