Ten o'clock
Sara appeared to have recovered from her indisposition ; there was colour in her cheeks and life in her smile . He took it to be an omen of good fortune , and was immeasurably confident . The soft cool breezes of the star-lit night blew visions of impending happiness across his lively imagination ; fanned his impatience with gentle ardour ; filled him with supressed sighs of contentment , and made him willing to forego the delight of conquest that he might live the longer in serene anticipation of its thrills . Ten o'clock came . He arose and stretched himself in a sort of ecstasy . His heart was thumping loudly , his senses swam . Walking to the verandah rail he looked out across the moonlit Sound , then down at the selected nook over against the garden wall -- spot to be immortalised !