noon before
Something seemed constantly urging me to go and look at it . Half to get the thing out of my head , I sent Styles to fetch Lilith , and for the first time since the final assurance of my loss , mounted her . I rode for Umberden Church . It was long after noon before I had made up my mind , and when , having tied Lilith to the gate , I entered the church , one red ray from the setting sun was nestling in the very roof . Knowing what I should find , yet wishing to see it again , I walked across to the vestry , feeling rather uncomfortable at the thought of prying thus alone into the parish register . I could almost have persuaded myself that I was dreaming still ; and in looking back , I can hardly in my mind separate the dreaming from the waking visit . Of course I found just what I had expected -- 1748 , not 1747 -- at the top of the page , and was about to replace the register , when the thought occurred to me that , if the dream had been potent enough to bring me hither , it might yet mean something .