eight
o'clock at night
`` Drive to Mr. Johnson 's in the High street -- quick , quick . I will give you half-a-crown if you will go quick . '' For , indeed , her endurance , her patience , was strained almost to snapping ; yet at Hellingford station , where doubtless they could have told her the truth , she dared not ask the question . It was past eight o'clock at night . In many houses in the little country town there were unusual lights and sounds . The inhabitants were showing their hospitality to such of the strangers brought by the assizes , as were lingering there now that the business which had drawn them was over . The Judges had left the town that afternoon , to wind up the circuit by the short list of a neighbouring county town .