five minutes past
eight
The delicate colour in her cheeks deepened . `` One day he began to talk about himself , and he told me about Beechfield , what a beautiful village it was , how devoted he was to you all ! '' Janet Tosswill glanced at the clock . `` It 's already five minutes past eight ! '' she exclaimed . `` I must go and hurry my young people -- their father likes them to be absolutely punctual . The gong will go in a minute . ''