nearly a quarter to nine
Much disappointed , she trudged away in an opposite direction to find `` The Anchorage '' , and after walking half a mile or more in search of it , was again confronted with ill success . At `` Sea View Cottage '' and `` Teneriffe House '' she fared no better ; the occupiers , albeit they belonged to the great family of Smiths , had no connection whatever with the sea : and though she went to several other addresses on her list , the answer was invariably the same . Utterly tired out , weary and despondent , Gipsy retraced her steps in the direction of the post office . Having parted with her watch , she had no idea of the time , but catching sight of a clock in a public building , she was horrified to find it was nearly a quarter to nine . The days at that season of the year were long , and this particular evening had been more than usually light ; moreover , she had been entirely preoccupied with her quest , so she had never given a thought to the rapidly passing hours . For the first time the question of where she must sleep presented itself to her . `` I must get back to Liverpool , '' she thought , `` and apply at one of the shipping offices .