nine o'clock
The other obsession was gone as if it had never been , as a cloud which broods darkly over a mountain top is carried away by a fresh gust of wind , leaving no trace on the mountain steeped in sunshine . Instead of lying in bed until time to bathe and dress for the Casino , Vanno rose early , according to his old custom . It was as if he opened a neglected book at a page where a marker had been placed , and began to read again with renewed and increased interest . By nine o'clock he was at the Villa Bella Vista , asking for Mary , who had promised to see him . They had arranged that he was to tell Lord and Lady Dauntrey not only of their engagement , but of Mary 's decision to leave their house for a visit to Mrs. Winter . She , however , had summoned unexpected courage and had already broken the news . It had seemed treacherous , she explained to Vanno , to go to bed and say nothing ; so on an impulse she had told them all ; and both had been kind .