ten o'clock
This arrangement furnished her the opportunity for more trips to the farm than interest in her dairy warranted ; it made her Mrs. Meredith 's most frequent incidental visitor . Having thus determined upon her immediate course for the prompt unravelling of this mysterious matter , she dismissed it from her mind , passed into her bedroom and was soon asleep : a smile played over the sweet old face . The Judge walked slowly across the town in the moonlight . It was his rule to get home to his rooms by ten o'clock ; and people living on the several streets leading that way were used to hearing him come tapping along before that hour . If they sat in their doorways and the night was dark , they gave him a pleasant greeting through the darkness ; if there was a moon or if he could be seen under a lamp post , they added smiles . No one loved him supremely , but every one liked him a little -- on the whole , a stable state for a man . For his part he accosted every one that he could see in a bright cheery way and with a quick inquiring glance as though every heart had its trouble and needed just a little kindness .