seven o'clock
I commend your judgment ; for , if there was ever an individual in this world an honest man might wish to avoid , it is the gentleman I have mentioned . '' With this , he walked off ; and Derrick sat for some time in a state of amazement at the quaintness -- and , be it added , the acuteness -- of his new acquaintance . Presently the landlord served him with a nice little meal , which it is to be feared Derrick did not appreciate ; for he scarcely knew what he was eating . The time lagged intolerably ; and long before seven o'clock , he had found the little wood , and was pacing up and down it , his heart beating furiously , as he listened for footsteps ; they came presently , and he drew behind a tree , that , for a moment or two , unseen himself , his eyes might rest on the girl he had seen but once , but whose form was enshrined in his heart . And presently she came ; a slim , graceful figure in a plain white dress . The evening was warm , and she had taken off her hat , and was swinging it idly in her hand . When he saw her face distinctly , he noticed that it was calm and serene ; there was no expression of expectation in it ; she looked as if she were just strolling without any object .