six o'clock
It might have been the chosen retreat of one who , amidst all the blessings of life , day by day made preparation for the hour of death . The vision of such a life , of a course of sacred duties , of holy affections , of usefulness in life , of resignation in death , of humility in time of weal , of peace in time of woe ; such a vision passed before my eyes even then , and my lips murmured : `` Let me die the death of the righteous , and let my latter end be like his . '' The sexton arrived with the key ; and entering by the great portal door , I wandered for nearly an hour through the aisles , and lingered in the choir and in the chapel , though there was scarcely light to do more than just to trace the outlines of the masses of columns which rise in severe simplicity , and arch above one 's head at a height which , in the dimness of the twilight , was scarcely discernible . After having visited the cloisters , and been so beguiled by their beauty as to forget that dinner was to be on the table at six o'clock , and that it was now verging on the half-hour past , I hurried back to the inn just as the first set of mutton-chops were coming up the stairs , and had just time to close Mrs. Hatton 's mouth with a kiss as she was beginning to assure me , in answer to my apologies , that there was nothing in the world she liked so much as waiting for dinner . The weather had grown close and warm ; and we were glad , immediately after we had finished eating , to have the table cleared , and to draw our chairs to the open bow-window . It commanded a view all down the street , which at that moment bore the peculiarly dull and dusty appearance which streets in provincial towns are apt to present on a summer 's evening . Two or three children were playing at marbles before one door , and screaming at each other in that particular key which games of this description call into exercise .