nine o'clock
A declaration trembled on his tongue , but he felt that he would be taking an unfair advantage and restrained himself . Besides , he wished to win Mrs. Groome completely to his side , to say nothing of the still more alarming because more worldly Mrs. Abbott . _ She _ was a snob , if you like ! At nine o'clock , after he had given the inmates of the house and outbuildings stern orders not to light a candle or lamp under any circumstances -- such was the emergency law -- he bade Alexina a gallant good-night , and betook himself to the lawn within the grove of sighing eucalyptus trees , to pace up and down , his rifle in his arm , his eyes alert , and quite aware of the admiring young princess at the casement above . He did his work very thoroughly , visiting outhouses at intervals and sharply inspecting the weary occupants , as well as the prostrate forms under the trees . They were all far too tired and apprehensive to dream of breaking into the house that had given them hospitality , even had they been villains , which they were not . But they did not resent his inspection ; rather they felt a sense of security in this watching manly figure with the gun , for they were rather afraid of villains themselves : it was reported that many looters had been stood against hissing walls and shot by the stern orders of General Punston .