four o'clock
` It is rather lighter , ' said Stockdale . `` Tis , unfortunately , ' said she . ` But it is only from those few stars over there . The moon was new to-day at four o'clock , and I expected clouds . I hope we shall be able to do it this dark , for when we have to sink 'em for long it makes the stuff taste bleachy , and folks do n't like it so well . ' Her course was different from that of the preceding night , branching off to the left over Lord 's Barrow as soon as they had got out of the lane and crossed the highway . By the time they reached Chaldon Down , Stockdale , who had been in perplexed thought as to what he should say to her , decided that he would not attempt expostulation now , while she was excited by the adventure , but wait till it was over , and endeavour to keep her from such practices in future .