eight
o'clock
I can go about two-thirds of the time , but he must be allowed some liberty about expressing his desire for my company . Of course a tactful woman can go nine-tenths of the way in all things to meet a man she likes , and he 'll think she has n't even started from home ; but she ought to be honorable enough not to do it at that rate . I believe in liberty for men as well as women . Still , I ca n't express the strain it was on me to wait until after eight o'clock for Sam with Grandmother Nelson 's farm-book on my knee , and I do n't want to do it ever again , especially if the Byrd or Mammy or the cows or any of the other live stock might be sick . I felt that it must be midnight before I got Sam seated by me on the deep old mahogany sofa in front of one nice April blaze in behind the brass fender , and under another from Tolly 's power-house . He was pretty tired , as he had been up since daylight , but the cows were all right and on feed again , Mammy was n't any stiffer than usual , and he had promised the Byrd the first chicken that the old Dominicker hatched out to stay at home and let him come to see me . Mammy had sent me five fresh eggs , and Sam presented them with a queer pod of little round black seeds , and a smile that would n't look me in the face .