eleven o'clock before
And Nelly received George 's account of the conversation with a sigh of relief . * * * * * That night the midsummer moon would be at the full , and as the clouds vanished from the sky , and the soft purple night came down , Nelly and Sarratt leaving every piece of luggage behind them , packed , labelled , locked , and piled in the hall , ready for the cart that was to call for it in the early hours -- took their way to the lake and the boathouse . They had been out at night once before , but this was to be the crowning last thing -- the last joint memory . It was eleven o'clock before the oars dipped into the water , and as they neared the larger island , the moon , rearing its bright head over the eastern fells , shot a silver pathway through the lake ; and on either side of the pathway , the mirrored woods and crags , more dim and ghostly than by day , seemed to lead downward to that very threshold and entrance of the underworld , through which the blinded Theban king vanished from the eyes of men . Silver-bright the woods and fell-side , on the west ; while on the east the woods in shadow , lay sleeping , ` moon-charmed . ' The air was balmy ; and one seemed to hear through it the steady soft beat of the summer life , rising through the leaves and grass and flowers . Every sound was enchantment -- the drip of water from the oars , the hooting of an owl on the island , even the occasional distant voices , and tapping of horses ' feet on the main road bordering the lake .