seven o'clock
`` Now , '' said Shirley , `` tell me what you have been doing with yourself all day . '' Jefferson was busily arranging the faded carriage rug about Shirley , spending more time in the task perhaps than was absolutely necessary , and she had to repeat the question . `` Doing ? '' he echoed with a smile , `` I 've been doing two things -- waiting impatiently for seven o'clock and incidentally reading the notices of your book . '' `` Tell me , what do the papers say ? '' Settling herself comfortably back in the carriage , Shirley questioned Jefferson with eagerness , even anxiety . She had been impatiently awaiting the arrival of the newspapers from `` home , '' for so much depended on this first effort .