about eight o'clock
That fickle Matty blushed . It was a way she had . Mrs. Bell was very successful in her purchase of plums . In her way she was a notable housewife , and she returned home about eight o'clock that evening with a large basket of greengages , which were all to be boiled down for preserving the following day . As soon as she entered the house the maid came to meet her . `` You take these carefully down and put them in the larder , Hannah , '' said her mistress . `` Be careful you do n't knock any of them , or the bloom will go off .