eight
o'clock
Shortly before her mother 's death , he had gone as supercargo on a large merchant steamer , bound for New Zealand . It was a most important post , and he had been promised , if successful , the first captaincy in the fleet of passenger steamers carrying between England and the United States , that was vacant . Before leaving on this long trip to New Zealand , he had only managed to see Christine for three hours . He had reached Culraine at eight o'clock . He had run like a deer the mile and quarter which lay between the railway station and the Ruleson cottage , reaching his goal just as Christine finished reading a goodnight psalm to her mother . She had heard his steps afar off , it had seemed as if the comforting words were read to them -- then she was at the open door , and they met in each other 's arms . Three hours of pure , perfect happiness had followed .