a quarter to
five
As the dusk came down she stroked his hair . He put his arm round her and held her close to him . The lamps in the High Street suddenly flaring beat out the sky . There above the street itself the fiery sunset had not extended ; the fair watery space was pale egg-blue ; as the chimes so near at hand struck a quarter to five the pale colour began slowly to drain away , leaving ashen china shades behind it , and up to these shades the orange street-lights extended , patronising , flaunting . But Joan , pausing for a moment under the Arden Gate before she turned home , saw the full glory of the sunset . She heard , contending with the chimes , the last roll of the organ playing the worshippers out of that mountain of sacrificial stone . She looked up and saw a green cloud , faintly green like early spring leafage , curl from the tower smoke-wise ; and there , lifting his hat , pausing at her side , was Johnny St. Leath .