half past seven
precisely
Oliver is not one to notice ; now lie still until you are called for rising ; '' and Betty tripped back to her own room , where , tearing off her dress , she threw her tired little self on the bed to rest , if not to sleep , for the short hours that remained before breakfast . The Wolcott household was one that was early astir , however , and Chloe , the old colored cook , was out in the barn searching for eggs , and Miss Bidwell had laid the breakfast cloth and polished the silver by half past six , when Miss Euphemia knocked briskly at the door where Pamela and Dolly Trumbull were slumbering sweetly , and resolved that she would request Oliver to permit Captain Yorke to come down and breakfast with the family . `` For , '' mused Miss Euphemia , `` our obligations to that young man should make some difference , I think , in his treatment ; I must try to persuade Oliver to detain him here until my brother 's return , for although I did not think it prudent to say so , I confess I am no more anxious to keep him prisoner than Betty was . '' But Miss Euphemia had not more than descended at half past seven precisely -LRB- her usual hour -RRB- when Oliver came hastily into the room , demanding a hammer and chisel , and with such evident dismay upon his countenance that Miss Euphemia asked if anything was the matter . `` I do not know , '' said Oliver , searching the drawer for the desired implements ; `` I called and knocked smartly at Captain Yorke 's door to ask him if he desired hot water , and to offer him a change of clean linen -LRB- as we are much the same size and build -RRB- ; but although I made sufficient noise to wake the hardest sleeper , no response did I receive . Then I unbolted the door , intending to enter , but he has fastened it on the inside , and '' -- `` He is ill , '' cried Miss Euphemia , in alarm . `` I noted he looked pale last night . ''