the hour of
eight
`` I 'd love to hear it , '' said the boy . The pendulums were ever swinging like the legs of a procession trooping through the loft , some with quick steps , some with slow . Now came a sound as of drums beating . It was for the hour of eight , and when it stopped the tinker began . `` Once upon a time , '' said he , as they rose from the table and the old man went for his pipe , '' 't was long ago , an ' I had then the rose o ' youth upon me , a man was tempted o ' the devil an ' stole money -- a large sum -- an ' made off with it . These hands o ' mine used to serve him those days , an ' I remember he was a man comely an ' well set up , an ' , I think , he had honour an ' a good heart in him . '' The old man paused .