About eleven o'clock
The boy was distinctly shocked . He was n't sure but Thomas was jealous of the attention the white man had shown him and wished to belittle it . Anyway , he did not thank him for destroying his romance . About eleven o'clock , when the people began to drop in from the plays , the master of ceremonies opened proceedings by saying that `` The free concert would now begin , and he hoped that all present , ladies included , would act like gentlemen , and not forget the waiter . Mr. Meriweather will now favour us with the latest coon song , entitled ` Come back to yo ' Baby , Honey . ' '' There was a patter of applause , and a young negro came forward , and in a strident , music-hall voice , sung or rather recited with many gestures the ditty . He could n't have been much older than Joe , but already his face was hard with dissipation and foul knowledge .