nearly five o'clock
in the afternoon
It varied her monotonous life . The strange , motley crowd gathered under the magnificent trees , sitting on the ground , or standing in groups beneath the tall arches made by the overlapping boughs ; the level rays of the declining sun , bringing out , in broad relief , their grotesque varieties of costume ; the gradual creeping on of the sobering twilight ; the alternating expressions of emotions visible on the countenances of the listeners , made the scene striking to her observing eye . Another burning , dusty day had culminated . It was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon . Mr. Norton was lying upon a lounge in Mr. Brown 's apartment . Both gentlemen appeared to be in a meditative mood . The silence was only interrupted by the unusual sound of an occasional sigh from the missionary .