six o'clock in the evening
Mrs. Murdoch -LRB- that was the name of his landlady -RRB- endeavoured to make him as comfortable as possible in his apartments ; but external comfort was nothing to George -- he wanted some word of love , some one to talk to , as in days of old . He avoided conversation as much as possible with Mrs. Murdoch , for she would talk of her absent son , and every word went as an arrow to George 's heart . That first day seemed a week . Hour after hour dragged wearily along , and when six o'clock in the evening came , George thought all time must have received some disarrangement , for it seemed as if days had elapsed since the morning . He went out after dark to a neighbouring shop and made some purchases of outfit ; but he was thankful when he had completed his task , for he had noticed a man walking backwards and forwards in front of the shop , and he felt a nervous dread lest it should be some spy upon him . He resolved that he would remain in his rooms , and not go out again until he left for the voyage on Tuesday , but would ask Mrs. Murdoch to make the remainder of the necessary purchases for him . How lonely and desolate George felt that night !