eight o'clock
It was such a pleasant evening ! Occasionally they left the heathen in his blindness bowing down to wood and stone , not for long , but just to give themselves -LRB- and him -RRB- time enough to breathe , and then the Burches told strange , beautiful , marvelous things . The two smaller children sang together , and Rebecca , at the urgent request of Mrs. Burch , seated herself at the tinkling old piano and gave `` Wild roved an Indian girl , bright Alfarata '' with considerable spirit and style . At eight o'clock she crossed the room , handed a palm-leaf fan to her aunt Miranda , ostensibly that she might shade her eyes from the lamplight ; but it was a piece of strategy that gave her an opportunity to whisper , `` How about cookies ? '' `` Do you think it 's worth while ? '' sibilated Miss Miranda in answer . `` The Perkinses always do . ''