about one
o'clock
Once in that city , he would have leisure to find some further apology for proceeding directly to France without first returning home . Now , strange as it may appear , though his purposed treachery to Marian wrung his bosom with remorse whenever he paused to think of it , yet it was the remorse without humiliation ; for he persuaded himself that stratagem was fair in love as in war , especially in his case with Marian , who had already given him her hand ; but now the unforseen necessity of these subterfuges made his cheek burn . He hastened to Dell-Delight , and showing the old man a letter he had that morning received from the city , informed him that he was obliged to depart immediately , upon affairs of the most urgent moment to him , and then , to escape the sharp stings of self-scorn , he busied himself with arranging his papers , packing his trunks and ordering his servants . His baggage was packed into and behind the old family carriage , and having completed his preparations about one o'clock , he entered it , and was driven rapidly to the village . The schooner was already at the wharf and waiting for him . Thurston met many of his friends in the village , and in an off-hand manner explained to them the ostensible cause of his journey . And thus , in open daylight , gayly chatting with his friends , Thurston superintended the embarkation of his baggage .