six o’clock
He put on his boy-nature , rioted like the rest , acquired colour in his cheeks , divested his jacket of perpetual dust , had his hair cut , brushed up a crest on his head , and ran about no longer a little abject , but a merry lad . Ethel said it was a change from Horrid-locks to Harfagre ; Margaret said little , but , like her father , she blessed Norman in her heart for having given back the boy to his father 's confidence , and saved him so far from the terrible course of deceit and corruption . She could not much take to heart the mad exploits of the so-called boys , even though she spent three hours in heart-beatings on Christmas Eve , when Hector , Mary , Tom , Blanche , and the dog Toby , were lost the whole day . However , they did come back at six o'clock , having been deluded by an old myth of George Larkins , into starting for a common , three miles beyond Cocksmoor , in search of mistletoe , with scarlet berries , and yellow holly , with leaves like a porcupine ! Failing these wonders , they had been contenting themselves with scarlet holly , in the Drydale plantations , when a rough voice exclaimed , `` Who gave you leave to take that ? '' whereupon Tom had plunged into a thicket , and nearly `` scratched out both his eyes '' ; but Hector boldly standing his ground , with Blanche in his hand , the woodman discovered that here was the Miss Mary , of whom his little girls talked so much , thereupon cut down the choicest boughs , and promised to leave a full supply at Dr. May 's . Margaret could have been angry at the taking the young ladies on so mad a scheme , but then Mary was so happy , and as to Hector , how scold him , when he had lifted Blanche over every ditch , and had carried her home one mile on his back , and another , queen 's - cushion fashion , between him and Mary ?