nine o'clock
So the old fellow would sit , singing the praises of his scapegrace son , while his hearers would nod solemn heads , fostering old Jasper 's innocent delusion for the sake of his white hairs and the medals upon his breast . But now , he was down with `` the rheumatics , '' and from what Lisbeth told me when I met her on her way to and from his cottage , it was rather more than likely that the high-backed elbow-chair would know him no more . Upon the old fellow 's illness , Lisbeth had promptly set herself to see that he was made comfortable , for Jasper was a lonely old man -- had installed a competent nurse beside him , and made it a custom morning and evening to go and see that all was well . It was for this reason that I sat upon the Shrubbery gate towards nine o'clock of a certain evening , swinging my legs and listening for the sound of her step along the path . In the fulness of time she came , and getting off my perch , I took the heavy basket from her arm , as was usual . `` Dick , '' she said as we walked on side by side , `` really I 'm getting quite worried about that Imp . '' `` What has he been up to this time ? ''