nearly ten o'clock
Desmond , as he walked on , found himself hoping that the visitor at the Four Alls would remain for a day or two . After passing through the sleeping hamlet of Woods Eaves , he struck into a road on his left hand . Twenty minutes ' steady plodding uphill brought him in sight of his home -- a large , ancient , rambling grange house lying back from the road . It was now nearly ten o'clock , an hour when the household was usually abed ; but the door of Wilcote Grange stood open , and a guarded candle in the hall threw a faint yellow light upon the path . The gravel crunched under Desmond 's boots , and , as if summoned by the sound , a tall figure crossed the hall and stood in the entrance . At the sight Desmond 's mouth set hard ; his hands clenched ; his breath came more quickly as he went forward . `` Where have you been , sirrah ? ''