ten o'clock
It occurred to her for a fleeting moment that they two were driftwood , and that the salt of their tears would color their lives as the years consumed them . But she banished from her mind all thought of everything save the present . With a contented little sigh she seated herself beside him ; her hand stole into his and , soothed and sustained by the comforting touch , each of the other , gradually the first terror of their predicament faded ; ere long , Donald reminded her of her promise , and she stole to the old square piano and sang for him while , without , Dirty Dan O'Leary crouched in the darkness and thrilled at the rippling melody . At ten o'clock , when Donald left the Sawdust Pile , he and Nan had arrived at a firm determination to follow separate paths , nor seek to level the barrier that circumstance had raised between them . `` Some day -- perhaps , '' he whispered , as he held her to his heart in the dark-it the garden gate . `` While I live , I shall love you . Good-by , old sweetheart ! ''