about
two o'clock
Then he stowed his money under his shirt in a linen bag hung to his neck , keeping out a few dollars , and at last fell sound asleep exhausted by emotion , Josiah 's customers were few in number . Westways was too poor to be able to afford a barber more than once a week , and then it was always in mid-morning when work ceased for an hour . Sometimes the Squire on his way to the mills came to town early , but as a rule Josiah went to Grey Pine and shaved him while they talked about colts and their training . As he was rarely needed in the afternoon , Josiah often closed his shop about two o'clock and went a-fishing or set traps on the river bank . His absence on this Monday afternoon gave rise , therefore , to no surprise , but when his little shop remained closed on Tuesday , his neighbours began to wonder . Peter Lamb wandering by rather more drunken than on Monday , stood a while looking at the shut door , then went on his devious way , thinking of the fierce eyes and the curse . Next came Swallow for his daily shave .