eight o'clock
Strout entered the boarding house and went upstairs to his room , forgetting that there was a man from Boston , to arrive late that evening , who was to have the next room to his . Abner put up the horse and went home . As he went by Strout 's door , thoughts of the rum and molasses , and the good cigar that he had enjoyed the night of the surprise party one week ago went through his mind , and he stopped before Strout 's door and listened attentively , but there was no sound , and he went upstairs disconsolately , and went to bed feeling that his confidence in the Professor had been somewhat diminished by the events of the day . Mrs. Hawkins waited patiently until eight o'clock for the gentleman from Boston to come down to breakfast . She then waited impatiently from eight o'clock till nine . During that time she put the breakfast on the stove to keep it warm , and also made several trips to the front entry , where she listened to see if she could hear any signs of movement on the part of her new boarder . When nine o'clock arrived she could restrain her impatience no longer , and , going upstairs , she gave a sharp knock on the door of Quincy 's room .