about
nine o'clock
I was a good deal distressed , but I tried to persuade myself that no harm would come to her . Soon afterwards I had an illness which left my health delicate , and made all dissipation distasteful to me . Life seemed very wearisome and empty , and I looked with envy on every one who had some great and absorbing object -- even on my cousin who was preparing to go out as a missionary , and whom I had been used to think a dismal , tedious person , because he was constantly urging religious subjects upon me . We were living in London then ; it was three years since I had lost sight of Lucy ; and one summer evening , about nine o'clock , as I was walking along Gower Street , I saw a knot of people on the causeway before me . As I came up to them , I heard one woman say , `` I tell you , she is dead . '' This awakened my interest , and I pushed my way within the circle . The body of a woman , dressed in fine clothes , was lying against a door-step .