nine o'clock
Christine was sewing , and Donald sat beside her winding and unwinding her threads , playing with her housewife , or teasingly hiding her scissors . Christine , half pleased and half annoyed , gradually fell into Donald 's mood , and her still face dimpled into smiles . James very quickly decided that Donald presumed in a very offensive manner on his relationship to Christine . A little after nine o'clock David , having closed his shop , joined them in the parlor . He immediately began to question James about the loss of the `` Bonnie Bess , '' and from that subject they drifted easily into others of a local business interest . It was very natural that Donald , being a stranger both to the city and its business , should take no part in this discourse , and that he should , in consequence , devote himself to Christine . But James felt it an offence , and rose much earlier than was his wont to depart .