eight o'clock
I stood still to hear her . Then I realised that her words were not addressed to me . Very carefully I stepped back to the door-handle , turned it , and slipped out . Once more I was back in the thick of it all , and till the closing of the poll at eight o'clock I strove , in company with Cash , Robin , and others , to direct the inclinations of my constituents into the proper channels . The tumult increased as the evening advanced . More snow had fallen during the afternoon , and outlying electors were being conveyed to the scene of action with the utmost difficulty . People were voting at seven o'clock who had intended to get it done and be home by six ; and as time wore on it was seen that there would be a desperate rush of business right up till closing time .