nearly eight o'clock
Madam kissed them all in turn and murmured a good-bye . I kissed mother and Kate , and they wished me a good voyage and a safe return . We turned our faces riverward and started . It was now nearly eight o'clock . The night was pitch-dark , the sky star-studded and moonless . It was freezing hard , the keen air stung our faces , the tiniest twig was finger-thick with hoar-frost , and the grass crunched under our feet at every step . I went ahead as guide , and in five minutes we arrived at the dock , where Joe , the boat out , cushioned and trim for the voyage , was vigorously slapping his hands crosswise round his waist to keep them warm .