four o'clock
He would call upon the Moorhouses at the conventional hour . The intervening time was spent pleasantly enough in loitering about the pebbled beach . A south-west breeze which had begun to gather clouds drove on the rising tide . By four o'clock there was an end of sunshine , and spurts of rain mingled with flying foam . Peak turned inland , pursued the leafy street up the close-sheltered valley , and came to the house where his friends dwelt . In crossing the garden he caught sight of a lady who sat in a room on the ground floor ; her back was turned to the window , and before he could draw near enough to see her better she had moved away , but the glimpse he had obtained of her head and shoulders affected him with so distinct an alarm that his steps were checked . It seemed to him that he had recognised the figure , and if he were right .