about nine o'clock
She was treated with great respect . One time Steve came to see about some civic banquet in which the head of Mary 's new firm was concerned , and Mary made herself close her door and begin dictating so as to appear to be occupied . The next day he slipped a love letter into the bouquet of old-fashioned flowers he selected for her benefit , and Mary forced herself to write a card and forbid his continuing the attentions . In March Gaylord Vondeplosshe telephoned Mary , about nine o'clock one evening , that Trudy was quite ill and wanted to see her . Would Mary mind coming over if he called in the roadster ? There was a fearsome tone in his voice which made Mary consent despite Luke 's protests . Gay was even more pale and weaker eyed than ever when he came into the apartment , his motor coat seeming to hang on his knock-kneed , narrow-chested self .