nearly nine o'clock
There was no lack of anything which could be purchased at the grocery . `` That grocer must be a very decent sort of man as grocers go , '' Mrs. Carroll was fond of remarking in those days . `` I really do n't know what we should do if it were not for him . '' After dinner was over it was nearly nine o'clock ; Carroll and Major Arms walked up and down the road before the house , smoking , leaving the ladies on the porch . The ex-army officer had something which he wished to discuss with his prospective father-in-law . He opened upon the subject when they had gone a piece down the flagged sidewalk and turned towards the house . `` What kind of arrangements have the ladies planned with regard to '' -- he hesitated and stammered a bit boyishly , for this was his first matrimonial venture , and he felt embarrassed , veteran in other respects as he was -- `` to the -- ceremony ? ''