half past eight
`` Then you 'll stay here and be my little girl , will you ? '' `` Yet , I tay here an ' be Timfy 's ittle dirl . Now oo p ` ay by your own seff ittle while , Mit Vildy , pease , coz I dot to det down an find Samfy an ' put my dolly to bed coz she 's defful seepy . '' `` It 's half past eight , '' said Samantha coming into the kitchen , `` and Timothy ai n't nowheres to be found , and Jabe hai n't seen him sence noon-time . '' `` You need n't be scared for fear you 've lost your bargain , '' remarked Miss Vilda sarcastically . `` There ai n't so many places open to the boy that he 'll turn his back on this one , I guess ! '' Yet , though the days of chivalry were over , that was precisely what Timothy Jessup had done .