eight in the evening
He sat down in his chair by the fire and began to chat , as was his habit before he and his wife parted to dress for dinner . When he was out during the day he often looked forward to these chats , and made notes of things he would like to tell his Mary . During her day , which was given to feminine duties and pleasures , she frequently did the same thing . Between seven and eight in the evening they had delightful conversational opportunities . He picked up her book and glanced it over , he asked her a few questions and answered a few ; but she saw it was with a somewhat preoccupied manner . She knew a certain remote look in his eye , and she waited to see him get up from his chair and begin to walk to and fro , with his hands in his pockets and his head thrown back . When , after having done this , he began in addition to whistle softly and draw his eyebrows together , she broke in upon him in the manner of merely following an established custom .