eight o'clock
-- Peat . '' The snow was beginning to fall as the guests departed . When the last of them was gone , the clock on the bureau was striking six , and the night was closing in . By eight o'clock Philip was at Elm Cottage . Pete was sitting at the foot of the stairs , unwashed , uncombed , with his clothes half buttoned and his shoes unlaced . `` Phil ! '' he cried , and leaping up he took Philip by both hands and fell to sobbing like a child .