About twelve o'clock
It was to all appearance taking us back to the surface of the earth . That of itself was hopeful . Every step I took confirmed me in my belief , and I began already to build castles in the air in relation to my marriage with my pretty little cousin . About twelve o'clock there was a great and sudden change in the aspect of the rocky sides of the gallery . I first noticed it from the diminution of the rays of light which cast back the reflection of the lamp . From being coated with shining and resplendent lava , it became living rock . The sides were sloping walls , which sometimes became quite vertical .