Midnight
But , though Lawrence knew all , Val had never relaxed the strain before him : was incapable of relaxing it before any spectator . He needed to be not only alone , but in the dark , hidden even from himself : and even so no open expression was possible to him , not a movement after the first deep sigh : it was relief enough for him to be sincere with himself and own that he was unhappy . But why specially unhappy now ? Midnight : the church clock had begun to strike in a deep whirring chime , muffled among the million leaves of the wood . That trio were in the train now , Isabel probably fast falling asleep , Hyde and Laura virtually alone for the run from Waterloo to Chilmark . A handsome man , Hyde , and attractive to women , or so rumour and Yvonne Bendish affirmed . If even Yvonne , who was Laura 's own sister , was afraid of Hyde !