about ten o'clock
The boats only stopped here when they were signalled to do so ; but to-night there happened to be other passengers going , and Mr. Bellairs advised Mrs. Costello to remain in the sleigh till the ` Reindeer , ' which was just in sight , should arrive . They sat still , accordingly , while he stood beside them talking ; and when the boat had stopped at the landing , they went on board and straight down to the ladies ' cabin . It was by this time growing dusk ; in the low cabin , with its small windows , there was but a faint glimmer of daylight remaining , and as soon as the boat was again under way , the hanging lamps were lighted and people who had till then lingered on deck began to come down by twos and threes . Mrs. Costello and Lucia took possession of a sofa ; their voyage was to end about ten o'clock , and for the few hours it would last they were disposed to keep quiet and avoid observation . It happened that the number of passengers was large , the last boat having been detained at some of the Lake ports , and the continuance of navigation at that time of year being so uncertain ; and the greater part of the women on board having come from places much further west than Cacouna , formed a crowd of strangers , among whom two veiled and muffled figures easily passed unnoticed . The cabin had grown very quiet , and the dull monotonous noise of the paddles had lulled Lucia almost to sleep , when she was startled by the touch of her mother 's hand upon her arm . `` It is very nearly time we were there , '' Mrs. Costello said .