noon before
And he had an inkling that their angle of vision was by no means identical ... . The voice of Lance , shouting an order , dispelled his brown study ; and Rose -- beautiful , desirable , but profoundly disturbing -- did not intrude again . Arrived in the gardens , they picketed the horses , and disposed themselves under the trees to await events . The heat increased and the flies , and the eternal clamour of crows ; and it was nearing noon before their ears caught a far-off sound -- an unmistakable hum rising to a roar . `` Thought so , '' said Lance , and flung a word of command to his men . A clatter of hoofs heralded arrivals -- Elton and the Superintendent of Police with orders for an immediate advance . A huge mob , headed by students , was pouring along the Circular Road .