night, about ten o’clock
`` Do n't know , Major , p ' raps never get out ; p ' raps learn how to-night . Have to do something soon if want to go . Mungana 's time nearly up , and then -- oh my eye ! '' It was night , about ten o'clock indeed , the hour at which Alan generally went to bed . No message had come and he began to hope that the Asika had forgotten , or changed her mind , and was just going to say so to Jeekie when a light coming from behind him attracted his attention and he turned to see her standing in a corner of the great room , holding a lamp in her hand and looking towards him . Her gold breastplate and crown were gone , with every other ornament , and she was clad , or rather muffled in robes of pure white fitted with a kind of nun 's hood which lay back upon her shoulders . Also on her arm she carried a shawl or veil .