six o'clock
Bathsheba sat at the window till sunset , sometimes attempting to read , at other times watching every movement outside without much purpose , and listening without much interest to every sound . The sun went down almost blood-red that night , and a livid cloud received its rays in the east . Up against this dark background the west front of the church tower -- the only part of the edifice visible from the farm-house windows -- rose distinct and lustrous , the vane upon the summit bristling with rays . Hereabouts , at six o'clock , the young men of the village gathered , as was their custom , for a game of Prisoners ' base . The spot had been consecrated to this ancient diversion from time immemorial , the old stocks conveniently forming a base facing the boundary of the churchyard , in front of which the ground was trodden hard and bare as a pavement by the players . She could see the brown and black heads of the young lads darting about right and left , their white shirt-sleeves gleaming in the sun ; whilst occasionally a shout and a peal of hearty laughter varied the stillness of the evening air . They continued playing for a quarter of an hour or so , when the game concluded abruptly , and the players leapt over the wall and vanished round to the other side behind a yew-tree , which was also half behind a beech , now spreading in one mass of golden foliage , on which the branches traced black lines .