half past six
Several times he took a poignant imaginary leave of her and of the earth , tears oozing out of his eyes . He even prepared the message he would send to her by his mother -- who would regret to her dying day that she had ever sought to separate them -- his poor mother ! He was not slow , however , in perceiving that he had now his excuse for going home . Towards half past six each evening came a `` gasgacha '' of bells -- a cascade of tumbling chimes , mounting from the city below and falling back chime on chime . After listening to them on the fourth day he said suddenly : `` I 'd like to be back in England , Mum , the sun 's too hot . '' `` Very well , darling . As soon as you 're fit to travel . ''