nine o'clock
Hood left the house alone , and walked off quickly in the direction of Dunfield . He must wait . It might happen that Emily would not quit home at all during the early part of the day , but he must wait on the chance . He dreaded lest rain should fall , which would naturally keep her within doors , but by nine o'clock the sky had cleared , and he saw the leaves above him drying in the sunlight . Inactivity was at all times intolerable to him to stand thus for hours was an exercise of impatient patience which only his relentless passion made possible ; his body yielded to a sort of numbness , whilst the suffering expectancy of his mind only grew keener . He durst not avert his eyes from the door for an instant ; his sight ached and dazzled . Still he waited .