four o'clock
Mrs. Garstin spoke in a peculiar tone of resignation , with a yearning glance towards the Bishop as I thought , towards the lugger as I know . But even then I was sure that those last words : `` There was a haze and it was growing dark , '' concealed the heart of her distress . She explained the inscription upon the tablet , while the lugger tacked towards St. Mary 's , and while I gradually began to wonder what still kept her on the island . At four o'clock on the afternoon of that Christmas Eve , the lighthouse on St. Agnes ' Island showed its lamps ; five minutes later the red beams struck out from Round Island to the north ; but to the west on the Bishop all was dark . The haze thickened , and night came on ; still there was no flash from the Bishop , and the islands wondered . Half an hour passed ; there was still darkness in the west , and the islands became alarmed . The Trinity Brethren subsidise a St. Agnes ' lugger to serve the Bishop , and this boat was got ready .