nine o'clock
Coffee was served . The parson was again left to Miss Keene , who would not be pumped for confidences , further than to admit that Mary was keeping her room with a headache , in consequence of the agitating visit of Captain Carey , but laboriously talked parish to him , without appearing to know anything of the subject . So the poor man actually became so bored that he changed his mind about staying for the night . He remembered that there was a good moon , and that he had an early engagement next morning , and ordered his buggy soon after nine o'clock . Afterwards he believed that it was the direct voice of the Lord that had called him to take his journey home at that hour . He drove alone , having a steady -LRB- Redford -RRB- mare , that stood quietly at gates and doors , and no groom -- a luxury almost unknown amongst country parsons , who must all keep horses . The night was beautiful , still , cool and clear , the moon so full that he could see for miles .