nearly six o'clock
Mrs. Hardy felt the same anxiety as her husband . After the horses were put up and the father and mother had gone into the house , they continued the conversation . Alice was upstairs with George , and the other children had not come back . It was dark , but husband and wife sat by the light of the open fire and talked together until nearly six o'clock . Mr. Hardy had just said something about Clara , and Mrs. Hardy replied , `` Is n't it about time they were here ? '' when the telephone bell rang in the little office adjoining the hallway , connected by wire with the shops , where Mr. Hardy attended to some of the business of the company . He went in and answered the call , and a series of sharp exclamations and questions was soon followed by his coming back into the room where his wife sat .