nearly six o'clock
`` God bless yez , ye darlint , '' she said , and kissed him warmly . William blushed all over , but went on his way rejoicing . Whimple had told him that the other two tenants were always on time , and this day William found it to be so . It was nearly six o'clock when he started back to the office , one hand holding the rents thrust deep into a pocket . Whimple , who had been growing anxious at the boy 's long absence , and had been blaming himself for asking him to do the work , met him half-way to the office . `` I was a little bit worried , '' he said simply ; `` I 'm afraid I made a mistake putting so much responsibility on you , William . '' But when , in the inner room of the office , William laid down the money he had collected with the laconic statement , `` It 's kinder slow work , '' Whimple 's misgivings fled .