Eight o'clock
she turned to the old hunter , who nodded sagely . `` I think my frien ' , he alive , too , '' agreed Jean , `` an ' I hope , mebbe I shall see again . '' `` You shall see him and so shall Ruth , if letters can accomplish your wish , Jean , '' promised Grace . `` Eight o'clock , '' announced David judicially . No one paid the slightest attention to him , however , Ruth Denton 's affairs being altogether too engrossing a matter for discussion . It was half-past eight when , after a hearty vote of thanks and three cheers for old Jean , the picnickers climbed the little hill and took the moonlit homeward trail . `` Yes , it was a busy two weeks , '' declared Arline Thayer , `` and yet , oh , Grace , you ca n't possibly know how slowly the time has gone .