midday
Elinor looked about in alarm , under a vague impression that the various objects in the room were coming to life . Then , with the reaction , she smiled and thought : `` Our friend is methodical with his clocks . '' But still , in this atmosphere , she was not at ease ; there was an excess of mystery , too much that needed explanation . And now that it was midday , the host might return at any moment and find her there , alone . So she went out ; and to avoid any appearance of pursuing Mr. Boyd , she followed a little path behind the house that led among the pines . Hardly had she entered the wood , however , when she saw , off to her right and not many yards away , the man she was trying to escape . He was lying at full length along the ground , one arm for a pillow , his face against the pine-needles .