nine o'clock
before
`` Yes , indeed . I only hope that state of things will last . '' And Winifred smiled and sighed at once , as if she were skeptical concerning of the permanency of married bliss . Office-hours were full ones that evening , and it was quite nine o'clock before R.P. Burns , M.D. closed the door on the last of his patients . The moment he was free he turned to Miss Mathewson , his office nurse , with a deep breath of relief . `` Let 's put out the lights and call it off , '' he said . `` Run home and get an hour to yourself before bedtime , and never mind finishing the books .