four o'clock
The trumpet-major helped her into it over the slippery blocks of stone , one of the young men spread his jacket for her to sit on , and as soon as they pulled from shore John climbed up the blue-grey cliff , and disappeared over the top , to return to the mainland by road . Anne was in the town by three o'clock . The trip in the stern of the lerret had quite refreshed her , with the help of the biscuits , which she had at last been able to eat . The van from the port to Overcombe did not start till four o'clock , and feeling no further interest in the gaieties of the place , she strolled on past the King 's house to the outskirts , her mind settling down again upon the possibly sad fate of the Victory when she found herself alone . She did not hurry on ; and finding that even now there wanted another half-hour to the carrier 's time , she turned into a little lane to escape the inspection of the numerous passers-by . Here all was quite lonely and still , and she sat down under a willow-tree , absently regarding the landscape , which had begun to put on the rich tones of declining summer , but which to her was as hollow and faded as a theatre by day . She could hold out no longer ; burying her face in her hands , she wept without restraint .