about eight o'clock
It was now the middle of August and he had come to Tally-ho Lodge , there to look after his establishments , to make arrangements for cub-hunting , and to prepare for the autumn racing campaign . On this occasion Captain Green was enjoying his hospitality and assisting him by sage counsels . Behind the little box was a little garden , -- a garden that was very little ; but , still , thus close to the parlour window , there was room for a small table to be put on the grass-plat , and for a couple of armchairs . Here the Major and the Captain were seated about eight o'clock one evening , with convivial good things within their reach . The good things were gin-and-water and pipes . The two gentlemen had not dressed strictly for dinner . They had spent a great part of the day handling the hounds and the horses , dressing wounds , curing sores , and ministering to canine ailments , and had been detained over their work too long to think of their toilet .