two o'clock
After the service the clergyman announced his intention of administering the holy sacrament on the following Sunday , to all such as should be religiously and devoutly disposed . For the last year I had always listened to this address either with a feeling of dogged indifference , or , if my heart was less hardened than usual , with a pang of shame and grief ; but always with a determination to remain banished from the altar , ex-communicated by my own conscience . Now for the first time , I listened with a somewhat different feeling ; I longed to kneel there , and as I looked at the clergyman while he preached , and marked his white hair , his venerable countenance , and the benevolence of his manner , a sudden resolution occurred to me ; I would open my heart to him ; I would tell him all ; I would , for once , pour out the secret anguish of my soul to one who neither loved nor hated me ; to one who would tell me what my guilt had been , -- who would promise me its pardon , and point out the path of duty to my blinded sight . I felt feverishly impatient to accomplish this determination ; and when we came out of church , and Mrs. Brandon asked me if I would walk or drive home , I said I would drive , so as to make the walkers set out without me ; and then I drew Mrs. Brandon aside , and told her , that as I had heard that the afternoon service was at half-past two o'clock , I should wait for it , and in the mean time walk about the churchyard and the village . She made some objections to my remaining alone , which was inevitable if I stayed , as all the men had walked on , and the women would none of them be inclined to miss their luncheon ; but at last yielding to my earnest wish , she said she would herself come to afternoon church , in order to fetch me back . I saw them all drive off , and the village people slowly leave the churchyard in different directions , and sat myself down on the same tombstone as in the morning to watch for Mr. Leslie . It was some time before he came out of church , and when he did he remained for several minutes in conversation with the clerk at the door of the porch .