nine o'clock
Arthur was conscious that he no longer had exactly the same feeling of merely contemptuous annoyance toward Lina Maynard , on account of her treatment of Amy . He sympathized as much with his sister , of course , but somehow felt that to be recognized by Lina Maynard was not such a childish ambition as he had taken for granted . It was dusk when they reached home and found Mr. and Mrs. Steele on the piazza , which served as an out-door parlor in summer , with a neighbor who had dropped in to see Arthur . So he got out his cigar-case and told stories of city life and interesting law cases to an intent audience till the nine o'clock bell rang , and the neighbor `` guessed he 'd go home , '' and forthwith proved that his guess was right by going . `` ` Gad , I 'd forgotten all about the watermelons ! Perhaps they 're at 'em already ! '' cried Arthur , jumping up and running around the end of the piazza to the garden .