eleven A.M.
The feverish state he had been in for so long seemed likely to result in a serious illness . Mrs Barnett and Hobson tried in vain to soothe him , and Sergeant Long and the others could not understand how it was possible to be so unhappy for love of the moon . '' At last the great day-the 18th July-dawned . According to the calculations of astronomers , the total eclipse was to last four minutes thirty-seven seconds-that is to say , from forty-three minutes fifteen seconds past eleven to forty-seven minutes fifty-seven seconds past eleven A.M. `` What do I ask ? what do I ask ? '' moaned the astronomer , tearing his hair . `` Only one little corner of the sky free from clouds !