eleven o'clock
He stood and watched her till her tall figure was lost among the drooping corn-leaves . There was a singular choking feeling in his throat . The girl 's voice and face had brought up so many memories of parties and picnics and excursions on far-off holidays , and at the same time held suggestions of the future . He already felt that it was going to be an unconscionably long time before eleven o'clock . He saw her go to the house , and then he turned and walked slowly up the dusty road . Out of the May-weed the grasshoppers sprang , buzzing and snapping their dull red wings . Butterflies , yellow and white , fluttered around moist places in the ditch , and slender , striped water-snakes glided across the stagnant pools at sound of footsteps .