three o'clock
The result was that she left her window open , and , seeing her neighbor 's closed , sat down by her own with a book in her hand . As to Mirza , she jumped on to the stool at her mistress 's feet , but instead of resting her head as usual on the knees of the young girl , she placed it on the sill , of the window , so much was she occupied with the generous unknown . The chevalier seated himself in the middle of his room , took his pencils , and thanks to a corner of his curtain skillfully raised , he sketched the delicious picture before him . Unfortunately the days were short , and toward three o'clock the little light which the clouds and rain had permitted to descend to the earth began to decline , and Bathilde closed her window . Nevertheless , even in this short time the chevalier had finished the young girl 's head , and the likeness was perfect . There was her waving hair , her fine transparent skin , the graceful curve of her swan-like neck ; in fact , all to which art can attain with one of those inimitable models which are the despair of artists . When night closed in , the Abbe Brigaud arrived .