eight o'clock
`` God bless them all ! they are good lads . '' It was now close on eight o'clock and more than two hours ago since first the dawn broke over that low-lying horizon line which seems so far away , and tinged the vast immensity of the plain first with grey and then with mauve and pale-toned emerald , with rose and carmine and crimson and blood-red , until the sun -- triumphant and glorious at last -- woke the sunflowers from their sleep , gilded every tiny blade of grass and every sprig of rosemary , and caused every head of stately maize to quiver with delight at the warmth of his kiss . The plain stretched its limitless expanse as far as human eye can reach -- a sea of tall straight stems , with waves of brilliant green and plume-crowned crests shimmering like foam in the sunlight . As far as human eye can see ! -- and further , much further still !