nearly eight o'clock
The substantial blue day had faded to a paler and more ethereal blue ; the clouds were pink , far away and closely packed together ; and the peace of evening had replaced the heat of the southern afternoon , in which they had started on their walk . `` It must be late ! '' she exclaimed . It was nearly eight o'clock . `` But eight o'clock does n't count here , does it ? '' Terence asked , as they got up and turned inland again . They began to walk rather quickly down the hill on a little path between the olive trees .