nine o'clock
Helena 's heart was beating , as she imagined what a merry noise there would be should they wake all the fowls . She dreaded any commotion , any questioning , this night , so she stole carefully along till they issued on the high-road not far from home . _ Chapter 13 _ In the morning , after bathing , Siegmund leaned upon the seawall in a kind of reverie . It was late , towards nine o'clock , yet he lounged , dreamily looking out on the turquoise blue water , and the white haze of morning , and the small , fair shadows of ships slowly realizing before him . In the bay were two battleships , uncouth monsters , lying as naïve and curious as sea-lions strayed afar . Siegmund was gazing oversea in a half-stupid way , when he heard a voice beside him say : ` Where have they come from ; do you know , sir ? ' He turned , saw a fair , slender man of some thirty-five years standing beside him and smiling faintly at the battleships .