seven in the evening
Then they went in . The Sunday which followed this particular Saturday was of a heat truly tropical . All the blinds of the Clegg and Lathrop houses stayed tightly closed all day , and it is only fair to surmise that those who remained behind them were not sorry that the minister 's absence allowed them to do so with a clear conscience . But about half-past seven in the evening Susan 's shutters began to bang open with a succession of blast-like reports , and shortly after she emerged from her kitchen door and started down town . Mrs. Lathrop , who was of course cognizant of every movement on her neighbor 's part , saw her go and made haste to be ready against her home-coming . To that end she set her front door hospitably open , drew two rockers out upon the porch , laid a palm-leaf fan in one , and deposited herself in the other . It was nearly an hour before Miss Clegg returned from town .