ten minutes past eight o'clock
Thereupon , during a quarter of an hour came a confused murmuring , made up of `` Paters '' and `` Aves , '' self-examinations , acts of contrition , and vows of trustful reliance in God , the Blessed Virgin , and the Saints , with thanksgiving for protection and preservation that day , and , at last , a prayer for the living and for the faithful departed . `` In the name of the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghost . Amen . '' It was ten minutes past eight o'clock , the shades of night were already bedimming the landscape -- a vast plain which the evening mist seemed to prolong into the infinite , and where , far away , bright dots of light shone out from the windows of lonely , scattered houses . In the carriage , the lights of the lamps were flickering , casting a subdued yellow glow on the luggage and the pilgrims , who were sorely shaken by the spreading tendency of the train 's motion . `` You know , my children , '' resumed Sister Hyacinthe , who had remained standing , `` I shall order silence when we get to Lamothe , in about an hour 's time . So you have an hour to amuse yourselves , but you must be reasonable and not excite yourselves too much .