nearly half past six
These clouds gradually became more frequent and more dense , until at length the whole eastern sky was involved in one dense mass of threatening vapor . It began to grow dark , too . The specified time for sailing was four o'clock ; but there was a delay for the mails , and it was full half past four before the steamer had left the pier . And now , before she began to draw near the French coast , it was nearly half past six . At length the coast began slowly to appear . Its outline was dimly discerned among the misty clouds . Long before this time , however , Mrs. Parkman had become quite sick .