nearly midnight before
The horses sweated even at walking-pace , but anything was better than sitting still in our own dark houses . When we moved off under the full moon we were four couples , one triplet , and Mr. Saumarez rode with the Copleigh girls , and I loitered at the tail of the procession , wondering with whom Saumarez would ride home . Every one was happy and contented ; but we all felt that things were going to happen . We rode slowly : and it was nearly midnight before we reached the old tomb , facing the ruined tank , in the decayed gardens where we were going to eat and drink . I was late in coming up ; and before I went into the garden , I saw that the horizon to the north carried a faint , dun-colored feather . But no one would have thanked me for spoiling so well-managed an entertainment as this picnic -- and a dust-storm , more or less , does no great harm . We gathered by the tank .