Nine o’clock
They both looked up the road that ran in shadow right under the glow of the north-west sky . On the crest of the hill , Selby , with its stark houses and the up-pricked headstocks of the pit , stood in black silhouette small against the sky . He looked at his watch . `` Nine o'clock ! '' he said . The pair stood , loth to part , hugging their books . `` The wood is so lovely now , '' she said .