nearly
nine o'clock
I was on the old settee after supper , as usual . Here I always came to smoke my pipe after the evening meal . Somewhat to my surprise , Mr. Grundy came out and sat down beside me . Frequently he and his wife came out for a short time in the early evening , but this night it was nearly nine o'clock when I heard the old gentleman 's heavy step in the hall . I made room for him when I saw that it was his intention to sit down , and offered him my tobacco , for I saw that he held a cob pipe in his hands , -- another unusual thing . He took my tobacco in silence , and in silence filled his pipe and lit it . I felt that he had something to say to me , so I waited patiently , and we both puffed away .