six o'clock
The eight-o'clock bell had rung long since , and though the racket was as great as ever , it was only because every reveller left now made the noise of two . Mothers were out fishing for their bairns . The Haggerty-Taggertys had straggled home hoarse as crows ; every one of them went to bed that night with a stocking round his throat . Of Monypenny boys , Tommy could find none in the square but Corp , who , with another tooth missing , had been going about since six o'clock with his pockets hanging out , as a sign that all was over . An awkward silence had fallen on the trio ; the reason , that Tommy had only threepence left and the smallest of them cost threepence . The reference of course is to the wondrous gold-paper packets of sweets -LRB- not unlike crackers in appearance -RRB- which are only seen at the Muckley , and are what every girl claims of her lad or lads . Now , Tommy had vowed to Elspeth -- But he had also said to Grizel -- In short , how could he buy for both with threepence ?