nearly four o'clock
He really loved her after his own fashion , and would do anything in his power to make her happy . But he must , as he expressed it , have his joke . Mrs. Martin was seated by the fire in the drawing-room . It was getting late -- nearly four o'clock ; but , according to an expressed wish of Bo-peep , the window-blinds had not yet been drawn down . He liked , as he said , to see his home before he entered it . Mrs. Martin , therefore , with the electric light on , was perfectly visible from the road . Mr. Martin guessed that this would be the case , and he stopped the cab at a little distance from the house , paid the fare , shouldered his bag , and walked softly down the street .