half past nine
Under this bracing treatment Bernard became more natural than Laura had seen him for a long time , and he stayed in the drawingroom after dinner , chatting with Lawrence and listening to his wife at the piano , till Laura thought the Golden Age had come again . How long would it last ? Philosophers like Laura never ask that question . At all events it lasted till half past nine , when the sick man was honestly tired and the lines of no fictitious pain were drawn deep about his mouth and eyes . Mrs. Clowes went away with her husband , who liked to have her at hand while Barry was getting him to bed , and Lawrence had strolled out on the lawn , when a shutter was thrown down in Bernard 's room and Laura reappeared at the open window . `` Lawrence , are you there ? '' she asked , shading her eyes between her hands .