Sunday evening, about nine o'clock
He was always assured of a welcome at Chelsea , and the shout that invariably greeted his entrance flattered him . `` Different from ole ` Earty 's ` Good-evenin ' , Joseph , ' '' he would remark . `` I 'd like ` Earty to meet this little lot . '' One Sunday evening , about nine o'clock , Bindle made his way round to the flat , and found Dick Little alone with his brother Tom , who was spending the week-end in town . Bindle had not previously met Tom Little , who , however , greeted him warmly as an old friend . `` P ` r ` aps I 'd better be goin ' , '' suggested Bindle tentatively , `` seein ' as you 're -- '' `` Not a bit of it , '' broke in Dick Little ; `` sit down , mix yourself a drink ; there are the cigars . '' Bindle did as he was bid .