about five o'clock
His keener perception told him there was a look of appeal in Grace 's upturned eyes . He made a poor companion at dinner , and poor plain Maud knew his mind was elsewhere . She was used to that and accepted it with a pathetic attempt to color it differently . They got away about five o'clock . Ben drove the team , driving took his mind off his weakness and failure ; while Milton in the seclusion of the back seat of the carryall was happy with Amelia Turner . It was growing dark as they entered upon the curving road along the river which was a relief from the rectangular and sun-smitten roads of the prairie . They lingered under the great oaks and elms which shaded them .