a quarter
to ten
There were no fierce , rebellious feelings in her gentle heart , no angry warring with the mighty Hand that sends crosses and blessings alike . The flower bent by the wind was not more pliant . Where her sorrow and love had cast her she lay , silently enduring her suffering , while Lionel traveled without intermission , wishing only to find himself far away from the young girl he declared he had ceased to love yet could not forget . Thursday evening , and the hand of the ormolu clock pointed to a quarter to ten . Lord Earle sat reading , Lady Helena had left Lillian asleep , and had taken up a book near him . Lord Airlie had been sketching for Beatrice a plan of a new wing at Lynnton . Looking up suddenly she saw the time .