about seven o'clock
`` Oh yes ! '' I said , `` I 'm better now ; '' and by degrees the walk in the warm afternoon sunshine seemed to make me feel more myself ; beside which I was dry when I got back home , but very low-spirited and dull . I did not say anything , for my mother was lying down , and Mrs Beeton never invited my confidence ; beside which I felt rather conscience-stricken , and after having my solitary tea I went to the window , feeling warmer , and less disposed to shiver . And as I sat there about seven o'clock on that warm summer evening it almost seemed as if my afternoon 's experience had been a dream , and that Shock had not swum out and saved me from drowning , for there he was under one of the pear-trees , with a switch and a piece of clay , throwing pellets at our house , one of which came right in at the open window close by my cheek , and struck against Mrs Beeton 's cheffonier door . I do n't want to say much about a sad , sad time in my life , but old Brownsmith played so large a part in it then that I feel bound to set it all down . I saw very little more of George Day , for just about that time he was sent off to another school ; and I am glad to recollect that I went little away from the invalid who used to watch me with such wistful eyes . I had no more lessons in swimming , but I saved up a shilling for a particular purpose , and that was to give to Shock ; but though I tried to get near him time after time when I was in the big garden with my mother , no sooner did I seem to be going after him than the boy went off like some wild thing -- diving in amongst the bushes , and , knowing the garden so well , he soon got out of sight .