eight o’clock
We 'll sail to-night instead . '' Then the three parted company , each with his own reflections . `` The Capt 'n done that a-purpose , '' thought Willie . `` He 'll keep my engagement for me at eight o'clock , '' thought Lovibond . `` I would n't have believed it of her if the Dempster himself had swore to it , '' thought Davy . At half-past seven that night the iron pier was a varied and animated scene . A band was playing a waltz on the circle at the end ; young people were dancing , other young people of both sexes were promenading , lines of yet younger people , chiefly girls in short frocks , but with the wagging heads and sparkling eyes of one type of budding maidenhood , were skipping along arm-in-arm , singing snatches of the words set to the waltz , and beating a half-dancing time with an alternate scrape and stroke of the soles of their shoes upon the wood floor on which they walked .