half past eight
And so they let him alone , and after a while he got up and hurried off again . Section 45 Peter was now in a state of utter funk . He knew that he would have to face McGivney , and he just could n't do it . All he wanted was Nell ; and Nell , knowing that he would want her , had agreed to be in the park at half past eight . She had warned him not to talk to a soul until he had talked to her . Meantime she had gone home and renewed her Irish roses with French rouge , and restored her energy with coffee and cigarettes , and now she was waiting for him , smiling serenely , as fresh as any bird or flower in the park that summer morning . She asked him in even tones how things had gone , and when Peter began to stammer that he did n't think he could face McGivney , she proceeded to build up his courage once more .