eight o'clock at
night
She herself sometimes ran barefooted around the house and yard , though she was growing too big for that now , and she did not blame the little Carringfords for wanting to do so . At any rate , she was very , very grateful to Mrs. Carringford for stepping into the breach at this time and helping them -- and grateful to Amy and Gummy , as well . Amy was a smart little housewife , and she had a gentle but firm way with the smaller children that kept them well in hand when their mother was out of the way . Gummy , driving Mr. Harriman 's delivery wagon , was at the Day house once or twice a day to see his mother , and of course Mrs. Carringford was always at home by seven or eight o'clock at night . The Days had set forward their dinner hour while Mr. Day was held in the house . Janice would not sleep upstairs herself at first , while her father so often needed her . She made up a bed on another couch that was drawn in from the dining room , and slept there .