about two o'clock in the afternoon
Imagine a prospect bounded by a high wall , of a blackish gray , half-covered with ivy , the plant peculiar to ruins . A dark avenue of old yew-trees , so fit to shade the grave with their sepulchral verdure , extended from this wall to a little semicircle , in front of the apartment generally occupied by M. Hardy . Two or three mounds of earth , bordered with box , symmetrically cut , completed the charms of this garden , which in every respect resembled a cemetery . It was about two o'clock in the afternoon . Though the April sun shone brightly , its rays , intercepted by the high wall of which we have spoken , could not penetrate into that portion of the garden , obscure , damp , and cold as a cavern , which communicated with M. Hardy 's apartment . The room was furnished with a perfect sense of the comfortable . A soft carpet covered the floor ; thick curtains of dark green baize , the same color as the walls , sheltered an excellent bed , and hung in folds about the glass door , which opened on the garden .