eight o'clock
She even dusted off the hair-cloth sofa and rocker , with many compunctions , because it was Sunday . `` I know I had n't ought to do it to-day , '' she murmured , apologetically , `` but they do get terrible dusty , and need dusting every day , and he is real particular , and he 'll have on his best clothes . '' Finally , just before twilight , Sylvia , unable to settle herself , had gone over to her sister 's for a little call . Richard never came before eight o'clock , except in winter , when it was dark earlier . There was a certain half-shamefaced reserve about his visits . He knew well enough that people looked from their windows as he passed , and said , facetiously , `` There goes Richard Alger to court Sylvy Crane . '' He preferred slipping past in a half-light , in which he did not seem so plain to himself , and could think himself less plain to other people .