six in the evening
-- the weary train , stopping at every station , and often waiting on the rail until it had been passed by trains that started four or five hours after it , -- dragged its slow course through the fair counties of England . Many people got in and out of the carriage , which was generally full , and some of them tried occasionally to enter into conversation with him . But poor Eric was too sick and tired , and his heart was too full to talk much , and he contented himself with civil answers to the questions put to him , dropping the conversation as soon as he could . At six in the evening the train stopped at Charlesbury , and he got down . `` Ticket , '' said the station-man . Eric gave it , turning his head away , for the man knew him well from having often seen him there . It was of no use ; the man looked hard at him , and then , opening his eyes wide , exclaimed -- `` Well , I never !