eight o'clock
`` Well , '' said Jonas , `` bring them to me , and I 'll look over them , and form a plan . '' Isabella brought Jonas the school-books , and he looked them over , but said nothing then about his plan . He reflected upon the subject until the next day , because he did not wish to propose any thing to them , until it was well matured . The next evening , at eight o'clock , Isabella put up her spinning , and took a seat by the fire , to hear Jonas 's plan . Amos sat by a table at the back side of the room . The farmer 's wife was sitting upon the settle , knitting ; and the farmer himself was asleep in his arm-chair , at the opposite corner . `` Now , '' said Jonas , `` I like the plan of having an evening school , and I am willing to be either teacher or pupil ; only , if I am teacher , I must _ direct _ , and you must both do as I say . ''