nearly six o'clock
She had not even taken her dogs with her , and her face was set and almost sullen as she passed out of the door and down the walk . All this was so unlike her that Mart was greatly troubled . It gave weight and significance to every word of Alice Heath 's warning . Bertha was gone till nearly six o'clock , and her mood seemed no whit lightened as she entered the gate and came slowly up the walk . To Mart 's humbly spoken query , `` What troubles ye , darlin ' ? '' she made no reply , but went at once to her room . The old gambler seemed pitiably helpless and forlorn as he sat there in his accustomed chair waiting her return .