twelve o'clock
Then he broke from Samway , crossed the room to Bathsheba , and kissed her hand . He put on his hat , opened the door , and went into the darkness , nobody thinking of preventing him . Boldwood passed into the high road and turned in the direction of Casterbridge . Here he walked at an even , steady pace over Yalbury Hill , along the dead level beyond , mounted Mellstock Hill , and between eleven and twelve o'clock crossed the Moor into the town . The streets were nearly deserted now , and the waving lamp-flames only lighted up rows of grey shop-shutters , and strips of white paving upon which his step echoed as his passed along . He turned to the right , and halted before an archway of heavy stonework , which was closed by an iron studded pair of doors . This was the entrance to the gaol , and over it a lamp was fixed , the light enabling the wretched traveller to find a bell-pull .