eleven o'clock
When the last hearty words of good will and farewell had been said and the train bearing the Southards westward had chugged out of the station , Grace was still obliged to possess her soul in patience while the remainder of the wedding party , minus the chief participants , repaired to the Nesbits ' home for an informal supper in honor of the occasion . During its progress , however , she and David managed to exchange a few words regarding Tom . David had canvassed the region of the camp as thoroughly as was possible during the time he had been North , but thus far he had met with no clue to Tom 's whereabouts . It was after eleven o'clock when Hippy , Nora , Anne , David , Mrs. Gray , Mrs. Nesbit , Grace and Elfreda Briggs , whom Grace had begged to remain with her , settled themselves in the library to hear David 's account of his northern explorations . `` I am all broken up because I have no news for you , '' he began . `` Good old Tom 's disappearance is the most baffling problem I 've ever dealt with . Blaisdell is completely discouraged .