about ten o'clock
Elizabeth-Jane went a few steps towards the landing . `` And tell him , '' continued her mother , `` that I fully know I have no claim upon him -- that I am glad to find he is thriving ; that I hope his life may be long and happy -- there , go . '' Thus with a half-hearted willingness , a smothered reluctance , did the poor forgiving woman start her unconscious daughter on this errand . It was about ten o'clock , and market-day , when Elizabeth paced up the High Street , in no great hurry ; for to herself her position was only that of a poor relation deputed to hunt up a rich one . The front doors of the private houses were mostly left open at this warm autumn time , no thought of umbrella stealers disturbing the minds of the placid burgesses . Hence , through the long , straight , entrance passages thus unclosed could be seen , as through tunnels , the mossy gardens at the back , glowing with nasturtiums , fuchsias , scarlet geraniums , `` bloody warriors , '' snapdragons , and dahlias , this floral blaze being backed by crusted grey stone-work remaining from a yet remoter Casterbridge than the venerable one visible in the street . The old-fashioned fronts of these houses , which had older than old-fashioned backs , rose sheer from the pavement , into which the bow windows protruded like bastions , necessitating a pleasing chassez-dechassez movement to the time-pressed pedestrian at every few yards .