ten o’clock before
The rules of Netherwoods , in summer time , recalled the young ladies from their evening 's recreation in the grounds at nine o'clock . After that hour , Alban was free to smoke his pipe , and to linger among trees and flower-beds before he returned to his hot little rooms in the village . As a relief to the drudgery of teaching the young ladies , he had been using his pencil , when the day 's lessons were over , for his own amusement . It was past ten o'clock before he lighted his pipe , and began walking slowly to and fro on the path which led to the summer-house , at the southern limit of the grounds . In the perfect stillness of the night , the clock of the village church was distinctly audible , striking the hours and the quarters . The moon had not risen ; but the mysterious glimmer of starlight trembled on the large open space between the trees and the house . Alban paused , admiring with an artist 's eye the effect of light , so faintly and delicately beautiful , on the broad expanse of the lawn .