ten
o'clock
But Cynthia , who was listening with one ear while Susan talked into the other , gathered that Jethro had been struggling with the railroads , and was sooner or later to engage in a mightier struggle with them . How , she asked herself in her innocence , was any one , even Uncle Jethro , to struggle with a railroad ? Many other people in these latter days have asked themselves that very question . All together the evening at Mr. Merrill 's passed off so quickly and so happily that Ephraim was dismayed when he discovered that it was ten o'clock , and he began to make elaborate apologies to the ladies . But Jethro and Mr. Merrill were still closeted together in the dining room : once Mrs. Merrill had been called to that conference , and had returned after a while to take her place quietly again among the circle of Ephraim 's listeners . Now Mr. Merrill came out of the dining room alone . `` Cynthia , '' he said , and his tone was a little more grave than usual , `` your Uncle Jethro wants to speak to you . ''