about eight in the evening
Come on , Phil ! '' They resumed their walk , and soon rejoined the others . The journey back to the Altenfjord was continued all day with but one or two interruptions for rest and refreshment . It was decided that on reaching home , old Güldmar should proceed a little in advance , in order to see his daughter alone first , and break to her the news of the tragic event that had occurred , -- so that when , after a long and toilsome journey , they caught sight , at about eight in the evening , of the familiar farmhouse through the branches of the trees that surrounded and sheltered it , they all came to a halt . The young men seated themselves on a pleasant knoll under some tall pines , there to wait a quarter of an hour or so , while the _ bonde _ went forward to prepare Thelma . On second thoughts , the old man asked Errington to accompany him , -- a request to which he very readily acceded , and these two , leaving the others to follow at their leisure , went on their way rapidly . They arrived at , and entered the garden , -- their footsteps made a crunching noise on the pebbly path , -- but no welcoming face looked forth from any of the windows of the house .