About seven o'clock
Well he knew , for the face of the dreadful child , in spite of its deformity , evinced a strong , strong , insistent resemblance to a face he knew . The dark hair and eyes , the shape of the forehead , the way the hair grew on the forehead -- where had he seen it all reproduced not so very long ago ? Miss Clairville 's expression , colouring , and animated play of gesture lived again in this mysterious child . About seven o'clock , just as Mrs. Abercorn 's `` nice little show '' was beginning , he took his way home . The path lay along the darkest road he had ever seen ; there was neither moon nor stars , and the blackness of a country road bordered by dense forests can only be understood by those who have travelled at such a time , and for the nine miles that he plodded stupidly along -- for he declined to wait to be driven -- given up to sombre and sinister thoughts , he was a most unhappy man . `` Yet is the creature rational -- endowed With foresight , hears too , every Sabbath day , The Christian promise with attentive ear , Nor disbelieves the tidings which he hears , ... '' About a week later , Ringfield was descending the hilly road behind Poussette 's at four o'clock in the afternoon , when he discerned a new arrival at the wharf , and as the tourist season was over , the boat only making a few occasional trips , he was curious concerning the lady who , showily if neither correctly nor expensively attired , was looking about her in disappointment and consternation . Poussette himself hurried out in his character of host ; his manner was more than usually warm and familiar as he took her bag and umbrella , and Ringfield soon learnt that she was Miss Sadie Cordova from Montreal , although originally from New York , a member of the Theatre of Novelties , who had come to pay Miss Clairville a visit .