eight o'clock
I know ! '' He sighed heavily . `` I 'm just the way I am , Hanna , and there 's no teachin ' an old dog new tricks . It 's a fact I ai n't much good after eight o'clock evenin 's . It 's a fact -- a fact ! '' They sat then in a further silence that engulfed them like fog . A shift of wind blew a gust of dry snow against the window-pane with a little sleety noise .