five
o’clock
It is foolish also to load the twelve hours with a task -- so much to be done . The sick person may perhaps want exercise , but to the tolerably healthy the best of all recreation is the freedom from fetters even when they are self-imposed . Our train homewards was due at Bexhill a little after seven . By five o'clock a change gradual but swift was observed . The clouds which had charmed us all through the morning and afternoon were in reality thunder-clouds , which woke up like a surprised army under perfect discipline , and moved magnificently towards us . Already afar off we heard the softened echoing roll of the thunder . Every now and then we saw a sharp thrust of lightning down into the water , and shuddered when we thought that perhaps underneath that stab there might be a ship with living men .