eight o'clock
`` I air a-lovin ' ye , Jesus , '' she trembled . `` I takes care of the brat till he croaks . Give me back -- '' Emotion left the prayer unuttered in her breast . * * * * * At eight o'clock that evening , Tess , hugging the fence , sneaked up through the rain . She turned into Graves ' orchard , scurrying barefooted toward the house , casting glances at intervals behind her . Through the small garret window she could see Rebecca moving in her room , preparing to go out . The library , facing the lane , was dark .