ten o’clock before
The design was efficacious ; for I remember that my mother seemed more at ease during the rest of the evening , and that Peggotty observed her less . When we had had our tea , and the ashes were thrown up , and the candles snuffed , I read Peggotty a chapter out of the Crocodile Book , in remembrance of old times -- she took it out of her pocket : I do n't know whether she had kept it there ever since -- and then we talked about Salem House , which brought me round again to Steerforth , who was my great subject . We were very happy ; and that evening , as the last of its race , and destined evermore to close that volume of my life , will never pass out of my memory . It was almost ten o'clock before we heard the sound of wheels . We all got up then ; and my mother said hurriedly that , as it was so late , and Mr. and Miss Murdstone approved of early hours for young people , perhaps I had better go to bed . I kissed her , and went upstairs with my candle directly , before they came in . It appeared to my childish fancy , as I ascended to the bedroom where I had been imprisoned , that they brought a cold blast of air into the house which blew away the old familiar feeling like a feather .