nearly nine o’clock
` You had better not be seen with me , even here where I am so little known . We have begun stealthily as thieves , and we must end stealthily as thieves , at all hazards . Until papa has been told by me myself , a discovery would be terrible . ' Walking and gloomily talking thus they waited till nearly nine o'clock , at which time Elfride thought she might call at the Falcon without creating much surprise . Behind the railway-station was the river , spanned by an old Tudor bridge , whence the road diverged in two directions , one skirting the suburbs of the town , and winding round again into the high-road to Endelstow . Beside this road Stephen sat , and awaited her return from the Falcon . He sat as one sitting for a portrait , motionless , watching the chequered lights and shades on the tree-trunks , the children playing opposite the school previous to entering for the morning lesson , the reapers in a field afar off .