six o'clock
To the best of Anne 's calculation that ship of war would , during the next twenty-four hours , pass within a few miles of where she herself then lay . Next to seeing Bob , the thing that would give her more pleasure than any other in the world was to see the vessel that contained him -- his floating city , his sole dependence in battle and storm -- upon whose safety from winds and enemies hung all her hope . The morrow was market-day at the seaport , and in this she saw her opportunity . A carrier went from Overcombe at six o'clock thither , and having to do a little shopping for herself she gave it as a reason for her intended day 's absence , and took a place in the van . When she reached the town it was still early morning , but the borough was already in the zenith of its daily bustle and show . The King was always out-of - doors by six o'clock , and such cock-crow hours at Gloucester Lodge produced an equally forward stir among the population . She alighted , and passed down the esplanade , as fully thronged by persons of fashion at this time of mist and level sunlight as a watering-place in the present day is at four in the afternoon .