nine o'clock
She left him , standing by the little wayside shrine with a strange look on his face . A tortured Christ hung there , casting the shadow of pain upon the passers-by . The expression in the brown eyes of the heathen god haunted her all the way down the hill , and throughout the day : they seemed to understand , and yet be glad . It was nine o'clock as the Signorina descended the stairs . Through the open doorway morning met her , crisp and cool , with sunshine touching grass and green branch , still wet with dew . The very footfalls of the girl on the shallow marble steps were eager and expectant , and her face was gayer than those of the nymphs in the frescoes on the wall . At the bottom of the stairs , Giacomo met her , his face wreathed in smiles .