eleven o'clock
`` All right , here goes , '' said Hippy . `` Now Reddy Brooks and David Nesbit , I said , that what you said , and formerly have said to have said , was said , because you happened to have said something that I formerly was said to have said that never should have been said . What I really said -- '' But what Hippy really did say was never revealed , for David and Reddy laid violent hands upon their garrulous friend and , escorting him to the kitchen door , shoved him outside and calmly locking the door , left him to meditate in the back yard , until Nora suddenly remembering that she had set the fudge on the steps to cool , opened the door in a hurry to find Hippy seated upon the lower step , a piece of fudge in either hand , looking the picture of content . -LSB- Illustration : Hippy Sat With A Piece of Fudge in Either Hand -RSB- The party broke up at eleven o'clock , and the hard task of saying good-bye began . The boys were to leave early the next morning , so the girls would not see them again until Easter . `` Do n't forget to write , '' called Nora after Hippy , as he hurried down the steps after the others , who had reached the gate . `` You 'll hear from me as soon as we hit the knowledge shop , '' was the reassuring answer .