4 A.M.
`` Come in my room and take off your hat and coat . When we come back we 'll talk about what is best to do . '' Five minutes later we were back and , eyes bathed and face powdered , Madeleine gave evidence of fresh injections of courage , and quickly we began to plan . The 4 A.M. train was the best to take , but for half an hour we talked of whether Shelby or Claxon was the better town to go to for the marriage ceremony , which at either place could be performed without the consent of parent or guardian , and irrespective of the age of the applicants for the same . Though preferring Shelby , Tom agreed to Claxon on my insisting on the latter place , which was the Mecca for runaway couples from our section of the state . If I were going with them -- `` Going with them ? '' The inflection in Selwyn 's voice was hardly polite .