nearly four o'clock in the morning
W ` y , I 'm s ` prised at you . '' `` She has slipped my mind , '' said the young man . For a long while the neighbours who had come and Aunt Mandy sat up to wait for Erastus , but he did not come in until the last one was gone . In fact , he did not get in until nearly four o'clock in the morning , looking a little weak , but at least in the best of spirits , and he vouchsafed to his waiting mother the remark that `` the little old town was n't so bad , after all . '' Aunt Mandy preferred the request that she had had in mind for some time , that he would go to church the next day , and he consented , because his trunk had come . It was a glorious Sunday morning , and the old lady was very proud in her stiff gingham dress as she saw her son come into the room arrayed in his long coat , shiny hat , and shinier shoes . Well , if it was true that he was changed , he was still her ` Rastus , and a great comfort to her .