6:30 p.m.
`` Pardon _ me _ , Mr Marrot , '' said Mrs Tipps , with little hysterical laugh -- knowing that she was about to perpetrate a joke -- `` may I ask if there are any -- any _ little _ tenders ? '' `` Oh , lots of 'em , '' replied John , `` quite a train of 'em ; four livin ' an ' three gone dead . The last was coupled on only a short time ago . You 'll excuse me now , ma'am , '' he added , pulling out and consulting the ponderous chronometer with which the company supplied him , `` I must go now , havin ' to take charge o ' the 6:30 p.m. train , -- it ai n't my usual train , but I 'm obleeged to take it to-night owin ' to one of our drivers havin ' come by an accident . Evenin ' , ma'am . '' John bowed , and retired so promptly that poor Mrs Tipps had no time to make further inquiry into the accident referred to -- at the very mention of which her former alarm came back in full force . However , she wisely got the better of her own anxieties by throwing herself into those of others .