twenty minutes to eight
More talk ensued -- eager , future plannings . Those two young men , very unlike in many respects , yet assimilated on a few strong points . Theodore had constantly kept a hold on his early friend -- at first because of the dear old mother , and finally because his stronger nature drawing out and in a measure toning Jim 's , the two had grown less apart than seemed at first probable . It wanted but twenty minutes to eight when the young men left the room where important business not only for time , but , as it came to pass , for eternity , had been settled , and hurried , the one to the Euclid House , and the other around the corner toward the great dry-goods house on the main business street . He stopped first though at the cozy little white house , moved with eager steps up the walk , flung open the side door , and spoke in tones full of suppressed excitement to the old lady , who was nodding over her large print Testament , Jim 's birthday gift . `` Grandma , I have a present for you . '' And a crisp paper was produced and laid on the page of the open Bible .