eight o'clock
Hardly a wagon passed , hardly a breath moved the leaves . Cindy , on her part , was lost in the fascination of some neighbouring kitchen . And Faith at first had been lost in her study . But the sounding of eight o'clock struck on more than the air , and she found , though she tried , she could not shut herself up in her book any more . Mrs. Derrick slept profoundly ; her breathing only made the house seem more still . Faith went to the window to look , and then for freer breath and vision went to the door . It was not moonlight ; only the light of the stars was abroad , and that still further softened by the haze or a mistiness of the air which made it thicker still .