midday
I had a queer illusion that night , that Nettie and her lover were close at hand , that suddenly I should come on them . I have already told how I went through the dusk seeking them in every couple that drew near . And I dropped asleep at last in an unfamiliar bedroom hung with gaudily decorated texts , cursing myself for having wasted a day . Section 3 I sought them in vain the next morning , but after midday I came in quick succession on a perplexing multitude of clues . After failing to find any young couple that corresponded to young Verrall and Nettie , I presently discovered an unsatisfactory quartette of couples . Any of these four couples might have been the one I sought ; with regard to none of them was there conviction . They had all arrived either on Wednesday or Thursday .