eight o'clock
The schemer cared not what the two young people would or would not say to one another ; all that interested him now was the fact that Richard was not at the cottage , and that , therefore , it would be safe to run back and fetch the tinder-box . All this was a part of Fate 's mischievous prank . Sir Marmaduke was not afraid of meeting the old Quakeress , nor yet the surly smith ; Richard being out of the way , he had no misgivings in his mind when he retraced his steps towards the cottage . It was close on eight o'clock then , in fact the tiny bell in Acol church struck the hour even as Sir Marmaduke lifted the latch of the little garden gate . The old woman was in the parlor , busy as usual with her dusting-cloth . Without heeding her , Sir Marmaduke strode up to the table and pushing the crockery , which now littered it , aside , he searched for his tinder-box . It was not there .