half past nine
They were like two youngsters out of school . All morning they idled out-of-doors , exploring the little lanes that led off into the buff-colored hills , returning at noon , ravenous , to lunch in the dining-room of the inn , parting afterward in the corridor , and going to their own rooms to rest and read . At four Ayling tapped at her door to say that there was in the sitting-room `` an absolutely enormous tea . '' That night , before a beautiful fire in the sitting-room , they caught each other yawning at half past nine , and at ten they said good-night . It had been so perfect that the next day found them following the same routine . And the next day , and the next . Bessie Lonsdale had not felt for years so much peace and so much strength .