six
o'clock
Satan 's a queer , knowing customer , but he often outwits himself ; and there 's One wiser and stronger than him . '' A few days after Thomas Bradly 's visit to the vicarage , Mrs Maltby and her daughter left home for the seaside . In the evening of the day of their departure , something different from the ordinary routine was evidently going on at Thomas Bradly 's . As it drew near to half-past six o'clock , four young women , neatly dressed , might be seen making their way towards his house . These were shortly joined by three others ; and then followed some more young women and elderly girls , till at length thirteen were gathered together in the road , whispering and laughing to one another , and evidently somewhat in a state of perplexity . `` What 's it all about , Mary Anne ? '' asked a bright-looking girl of fifteen of one of the oldest of the group .