nearly five o'clock
She said no more , but with a laugh , half broken by a sigh , the little woman walked briskly under the olives and down over the brow of the hill . The grass and trees were all wet , the great laurels by the path shown as if varnished , the huge madroño leaves each held a jewel on its tip ; all evidences of a heavy rain were about me , yet I had not been aware of it falling . In a short time I was deep in the redwood forest , away from the world in companionship with God . It was nearly five o'clock when I approached the ruin on my return ; the sun was now low enough to throw long shadows over the place , and made an effect of gloom which formed a good setting for the wall , with its green drapery standing out shining and warm in a glorious flood of golden sunshine . As I sat down to enjoy the picture , I became aware of some one walking behind the great clumps of nightshade , and presently a young woman stepped from behind the atropa where Madre Moreno had that morning been picking the poisonous leaves , and walked across the hollow , stepping gracefully from stone to stone till she came to the bright spot where the sun was shining , and seating herself at the foot of the wall , opened a book and began to read aloud . Beautiful as the scene had been before , it was now enhanced , and I did not stir , lest I should dispel the lovely vision . For fully half an hour I must have remained there before she became aware of my presence ; when she saw me , she started a little , but regaining her composure quickly , closed her book , and rose to leave the place .