about
two o'clock
Some time or other he must meet Anna . They could not live on adjoining estates and never see each other . The day after his birthday he arranged to go round in the afternoon and take up the threads of ordinary intercourse again , however much it made him suffer . Meanwhile Anna did her business in Stralsund , discovered on interviewing her banker that she had already spent more than two-thirds of a whole year 's income , lunched pensively after that on ices with Miss Leech , walked down to the quay and watched the unloading of the fishing-smacks while Fritz and the horses had their dinner , was very much stared at by the inhabitants , who seldom saw anything so pretty , and finally , about two o'clock , started again for home . As they drew near Axel 's gate , and she was preparing to turn her face away from its ostentatious gaiety , a closed _ Droschke _ came through it towards them , followed at a short distance by a second . Miss Leech said nothing , strange though this spectacle was on that quiet road , for she felt that these were the departing guests , and , like Anna , she wondered how a man who loved in vain could have the heart to give parties . Anna said nothing either , but watched the approaching _ Droschkes _ curiously .