eight in the evening
Since it was so the first day , what would follow ? Mary was on the contrary so far subdued , as to be exemplary in goodness and diligence , and Blanche was always steady . Flora was too busy to think of the school-room , for the whole house was on her hands , besides the charge of Margaret , while Dr. May went to the hospital , and to sundry patients , and they thought he seemed the better for the occupation , as well as gratified and affected by the sympathy he everywhere met with from high and low . The boys were at school , unseen except when at the dinner play-hour Norman ran home to ask after his father and sister ; but the most trying time was at eight in the evening , when they came home . That was wont to be the merriest part of the whole day , the whole family collected , papa at leisure and ready for talk or for play , mamma smiling over her work-basket , the sisters full of chatter , the brothers full of fun , all the tidings of the day discussed , and nothing unwelcome but bedtime . How different now ! The doctor was with Margaret , and though Richard tried to say something cheerful as his brothers entered , there was no response , and they sat down on the opposite sides of the fire , forlorn and silent , till Richard , who was printing some letters on card-board to supply the gaps in Aubrey 's ivory Alphabet , called Harry to help him ; but Ethel , as she sat at work , could only look at Norman , and wish she could devise anything likely to gratify him .