two o'clock
Then he put away the inventories he had been examining , and tore up several pieces of paper , on which were sundry calculations . And then he put on his warm overcoat and buttoned it to the chin . `` Edward , '' said Mr. James , as he walked down the store , `` I shall not return this afternoon . It is New Year 's Day , and you can close up at two o'clock . '' It cost Mr. Edgar a struggle to write the receipt in full . A thousand dollars was a large sum of money to give away by a single stroke of the pen . Love of gain and selfishness pleaded strongly for the last farthing ; but the better reason and better feelings of the man prevailed , and the good deed was done .