nearly eight o'clock
When Mick looked back from the far end of the path as he started she was already under the hedge , with Beezledum struggling in her arms . He heard her shrill voice singing : `` Shall we gather at the river ? '' The day was warm and bright . The children tramped for miles , and it was nearly eight o'clock when they came home , tired and hungry , and clamouring for food . But the minute they saw Lull 's face they saw that something had happened . Her eyes were red with crying . Teressa was in the kitchen too , wiping her eyes on the corner of her old plaid shawl .