nearly ten o'clock
Dalrymple had nodded to each in turn , but the gusty air pleased him , and he remained standing by the door , letting it blow into his face . It was growing late . Italian peasants are not great sleepers , and it is their custom to have supper at a late hour , just before going to bed . By this time it was nearly ten o'clock as we reckon the hours , or about ` four of the night ' in October , according to old Italian custom , which reckons from a theoretical moment of darkness , supposed to begin at Ave Maria , half an hour after sunset . Suddenly Dalrymple heard Annetta 's voice in the room behind him , speaking to her mother . He had no particular reason for supposing that she had been out of the house since she had cleared the table and left him , but unconsciously he had the impression that she had been away , and was surprised to hear her in the room , after expecting that she should pass him , coming in from the street , as the others had done . He turned and walked slowly towards his place at the table .