nearly nine o'clock before
They 're really a fine sight , tied up ready for the night . '' Mr. Jessup picked up his hat , and Austin held the door open for him to pass out , leaving Sylvia standing , an erect , scornful little black figure , with very red cheeks , her angry eyes growing rapidly soft as she looked straight past the minister at Austin . The results of Mr. Jessup 's visit were several . The most immediate one was that Austin 's work was so delayed by the interruption it received that it was nearly nine o'clock before he was able to start his bonfire . Thomas joined him , but after an hour declared he was too sleepy to work another minute , and strolled off to bed . Austin 's next visitor was his father , who merely came to see how things were getting along and to say good-night . And finally , when he had settled down to a period of laborious solitude , he was amazed to see Sylvia open and shut the front door very quietly , and come towards him in the moonlight , carrying a white bundle so large that she could hardly manage it .