nearly
eight o'clock
It appeals to the romantic in him as well . It is historical ; it is the city that makes history . Slowly the night fell . After leaving Harper 's Ferry the outside world vanished , and when the brakeman called `` Washington , '' it was nearly eight o'clock of a damp , chilly night . He was so eager to see the Capitol , which the kindly fat man behind him had assured him was but a few steps away from the station , that he took his valise in his hand , and started directly for the dome , which a darkey with a push-cart , pointed out to him with oppressive courtesy . There was an all-pervasive , impalpable , blue-gray mist in the air , cold and translucent ; and when he came to the foot of the grounds , and faced the western front of the Capitol building , he drew a deep breath of delight . It thrilled him .