ten
o'clock
Here , the sun shines and the wind blows on us ; not so where your master lies ; ' and she hastened her steps , which were swift before . Mr. Dacre 's house proved to be a very stately and fair one , towards the west end of the town ; it stood in a broad , very quiet street ; too quiet , I thought . Althea bade Will knock boldly at the door ; ` We will not be too humble , ' says she ; and he knocked loudly enough , once , twice , thrice ; but no one came to open to us , and our knocking seemed to echo and re-echo strangely through the house . ` Sure , ' says Althea , ` all the folks can not be asleep ; 't is past ten o'clock , ' and she knocked once more . There was a gentleman come out of a neighbouring house , who had looked curiously at us ; he now drew near , and , standing a little way off , called out , ` It is little use to knock at that door , ladies -- the master is dead a week since , and the house stands empty ; ' at which Althea turned a deadly pale face to him , saying , -- ` Do not mock us -- sure , it can not be so . ' The man , looking compassionately at her , now came up to us and said , ` Nay , my words are too true , madam . Have you any interest in this Mr. Dacre ? '