the hour of ten
I made up my mind I would not fail , for the letter told me of Naomi 's love and Naomi 's danger . The thought of speaking to her without hindrance was joy beyond all words ; so much joy did I feel , indeed , that I thought not of where Naomi was when she wrote it , or how she was to escape her guardian while she spoke to me . Enough that her own hands had penned these lines to me , while the joy coming from the thought that she sought my help made me incapable of thinking clearly . I was sure that her hands had traced these lines , for I compared them with the other letter I had received from her , and which I carried with me wherever I went ; and so long before the hour of ten I made my way toward Pendennis Castle . The little town was nearly asleep . No sounds reached me save those of revellers in some kiddleywinks near the shore . As I walked along many doubts came to me .