ten o'clock at night
She dropped her baggage and stood , trembling , gazing around upon the beautiful , lonely scene in horror ; and then , like a mirage against the distance , there melted on her frightened eyes a vision of her father and mother sitting around the library lamp at home , as they sat every evening . They were probably reading and talking at this very minute , and trying not to miss her on this her first venture away from the home into the great world to teach . What would they say if they could see their beloved daughter , whom they had sheltered all these years and let go forth so reluctantly now , in all her confidence of youth , bound by almost absurd promises to be careful and not run any risks . Yet here she was , standing alone beside a water-tank in the midst of an Arizona plain , no knowing how many miles from anywhere , at somewhere between nine and ten o'clock at night ! It seemed incredible that it had really happened ! Perhaps she was dreaming ! A few moments before in the bright car , surrounded by drowsy fellow-travelers , almost at her journey 's end , as she supposed ; and now , having merely done as she thought right , she was stranded here !