eight o'clock
A torturing pain like twisting knives went through him . The universe was going out ! ... He saw the starry sky behind her . Daddy went up and joined them , and he was aware that the three of them talked all at once for what seemed an interminable time , though all he heard was his cousin 's voice repeating at intervals , ` But you _ ca n't _ send a telegram before eight o'clock to-morrow morning in any case ; the post is closed ... ' And then , suddenly , the puzzle reeled and danced before his eyes . It dissolved into a new and startling shape that brought him to his senses with a shock . There had been a swift shuffling of the figures . Minks and his cousin were helping her into her cloak .