nearly eight o'clock
`` Once more , boys , an ' then , sez I , oats an ' a nice warm stall , an ' sleep f ' r all . '' By the time the last furrow was turned on the land it was too dark to see the house , and the snow was changing to rain again . The tired and hungry man could see the light from the kitchen shining through the leafless hedge , and he lifted a great shout , `` Supper f ' r a half a dozen ! '' It was nearly eight o'clock by the time he had finished his chores and started for supper . He was picking his way carefully through the mud , when the tall form of a man loomed up before him with a premonitory cough . `` Waddy ye want ? '' was the rather startled question of the farmer .