five minutes to eight
I have n't the least desire to sit alone and moon and meditate . I want all of you with me . It seems the most natural thing in the world that I should walk down the same old stairs to the same old parlor to meet the same old Reddy , just as I 've done dozens of times before . '' `` It 's five minutes to eight , girls , '' announced Miriam Nesbit . `` Say good-bye to Jessica Bright , and do n't one of you dare to shed a tear . '' One after another the girls embraced Jessica . Nora was last .