nearly eight o'clock
Oh , Jurgis , Jurgis ! '' He was so glad to get her back that he could not think clearly about anything else . It did not seem strange to him that she should be so very much upset ; all her fright and incoherent protestations did not matter since he had her back . He let her cry away her tears ; and then , because it was nearly eight o'clock , and they would lose another hour if they delayed , he left her at the packing house door , with her ghastly white face and her haunted eyes of terror . There was another brief interval . Christmas was almost come ; and because the snow still held , and the searching cold , morning after morning Jurgis half carried his wife to her post , staggering with her through the darkness ; until at last , one night , came the end . It lacked but three days of the holidays .