nine o'clock
When the summer had set in , he was glad to change the still room for the open air ; they walked frequently about Regent 's Park , and lingered till after sunset . One evening , when it was dull and threatened rain , they returned to the house sooner than usual . Waymark would have taken his leave at the door , as he ordinarily did , but Maud begged him to enter , if only for a few minutes . It was not quite nine o'clock , and Mrs. Enderby was from home . He seated himself , but Maud remained standing irresolutely . Waymark glanced at her from under his eyebrows . He did not find it easy to speak ; they had both been silent since they left the park , with the exception of the few words exchanged at the door .