about seven in the evening
At last the longed-for yet dreaded day approached , and a letter informed the Trevors that Mr. and Mrs. Williams would arrive at Southampton on July 5th , and would probably reach Ayrton the evening after . They particularly requested that no one should come to meet them on their landing . `` We shall reach Southampton , '' wrote Mrs. Trevor , `` tired , pale , and travel-stained , and had much rather see you first at dear Fairholm , where we shall be spared the painful constraint of a meeting in public . So please expect our arrival at about seven in the evening . '' Poor Eric ! although he had been longing for the time ever since the news came , yet now he was too agitated to enjoy . Exertion and expectation made him restless , and he could settle down to nothing all day , every hour of which hung most heavily on his hands .