nine o'clock
He smoked inveterately , and occasionally sang or whistled some careless tune , as though his heart felt not a feather-weight of care or sin . In the evening I was installed in the vacant house , with no living creature near but the great black dog I had brought with me from home , and who had always followed me for years , everywhere I went . However , I stowed even him into a dark recess , that was guarded by a little rickety door that fastened with a rusty lock . It was a black awful night , nature gave vent to her just indignation in every way I sat there , feeling already guilty and remorseful , until near nine o'clock . Then hearing the roll of a distant carriage , I tried to busy myself around , and look as domesticated as possible under the circumstances . I thought I should give up and lose all at the sight of the pretty , innocent , trustful child for whom he had planned this hideous deception . But I was as pitiable a victim myself as she , and the thought of my impending ruin drove every feeling of humanity out of my heart .