six o'clock
And at dinner , though Meryl made one of her spasmodic efforts and contrived to be gay , he remained somewhat preoccupied and taciturn . And Ailsa looked from one to the other secretly , and wondered what had been said before they reached the Mission Station ; and felt again that womanlike desire to shake the man for the very resoluteness she most admired in him . When she said good night to Meryl she could not refrain , from just one little delve into the perplexing situation . `` If you and Major Carew met at six o'clock and did not get back until seven , you must have had quite a long chat together . Such a new thing for him ! I do n't think even I , his trusted friend , can boast of such an incident . '' `` We just stayed to watch the sunset , '' and Meryl turned away on some slight pretext .