nine o'clock
` All these years . ' Gladys bowed her head as if in shame over those clasped hands , and a large tear fell upon Owen 's . He wanted no other confirmation of her words , and felt , as he had expressed it , the happiest man in the world . It was nine o'clock when the fly that took the travellers from Swansea to Glanyravon reached the door of the farm . The night was ` dark and dreary ; ' very different was the weather , the aspect of external nature ; very different were Netta 's feelings and all the circumstances , when she was at home ten years ago . She had been thinking again on all these things during that gloomy drive , when her companions thought she was asleep . Bright lights are in the windows and passage as the travellers look out of the carriage .