Ten o'clock
But no words can express the change that was being worked within the pure soul of the maiden by his side . Even for herself it was a secret ; let it remain , then , a secret for all others also . No one knows , no eye has seen or ever will see , how the grain which has been confided to the earth 's bosom becomes instinct with vitality , and ripens into stirring , blossoming life . Ten o'clock struck , and Marfa Timofeevna went up-stairs to her room with Nastasia Carpovna . Lavretsky and Liza walked about the room , stopped in front of the open door leading into the garden , looked first into the gloaming distance and then at each other -- and smiled . It seemed as if they would so gladly have taken each other 's hands and talked to their hearts ' content . They returned to Maria Dmitrievna and Panshine , whose game dragged itself out to an unusual length .