eight o'clock
Bud Tipworthy 's sister , Cynthia , was with him , and Parker saw that she turned from the window and that she was crying , quietly ; she put her hand on the boy 's shoulder and patted it with a forlorn gesture which , to the foreman 's eye , was as graceful as it was sad . He moved closer to Bud and his big hand fell on Cynthia 's brother 's other shoulder , as he realized that red hair could look pretty sometimes ; and he wondered why the editor 's singing made Cynthy cry ; and at the same time he decided to be mighty good to Bud henceforth . The spell of night and song was on him ; that and something more ; for it is a strange , inexplicable fact that the most practical chief ever known to the `` Herald '' had a singularly sentimental influence over her subordinates , from the moment of her arrival . Under Harkless 's domination there had been no more steadfast bachelors in Carlow than Ross Schofield and Caleb Parker , and , like timorous youths in a graveyard , daring and mocking the ghosts in order to assuage their own fears , they had so jibed and jeered at the married state that there was talk of urging the minister to preach at them ; but now let it be recorded that at the moment Caleb laid his hand on Bud 's other shoulder , his associate , Mr. Schofield , was enjoying a walk in the far end of town with a widow , and it is not to be doubted that Mr. Tipworthy 's heart , also , was no longer in his possession , though , as it was after eight o'clock , the damsel of his desire had probably long since retired to her couch . For some faint light on the cause of these spells , we must turn to a comment made by the invaluable Mr. Martin some time afterward . Referring to the lady to whose voice he was now listening in silence -LRB- which shows how great the enthralling of her voice was -RRB- , he said : `` When you saw her , or heard her , or managed to be around , any , where she was , why , if you could n't git up no hope of marryin ' _ her _ , you wanted to marry _ somebody _ . '' Mr. Lige Willetts , riding idly by , drew rein in front of the lighted windows , and listened with the others .