the evening about six o'clock
She understood what he meant , and a prevision of her future life seemed to nicker up in her brain , like the sea seen through a mist ; and through vistas in the haze she saw the lonely ocean , and her bark was already putting off from the shore . All she had known she was leaving behind . The destiny of ships is the ocean . Owen 's letter she received in the evening about six o'clock . She changed colour at the sight of it , and her hand trembled , and she tore the envelope across as she opened it . `` You ask me to make no attempt to save you . You ask me to stand on the bank while you struggle and are dragged down by the current .