ten o'clock
`` What in creation ails the boy ? '' said the man , with a start aside ; and he and the other stood staring after Jerome . When Jerome got home and opened the kitchen door he stood still with surprise . It was almost ten o'clock , and his mother and Elmira had begun to make pies . His mother had pushed herself up to the table and was mixing the pastry , while Elmira was beating eggs . Mrs. Edwards looked around at Jerome . `` What you standin ' there lookin ' for ? ''