about eight o’clock
Anyhow , it was a house divided agin itself at the Gineral 's , when he was a fixin ' out for the voyage . There was Ruth a goin ' fust to one , and then to t ' other , and tryin ' all she could to keep peace beteen 'em ; and there was this ' ere Master Slick Tongue talkin ' this way to one side , and that way to t ' other , and the old Gineral kind o ' like a shuttle-cock atween 'em . `` Wal , then , the night afore he sailed , the Gineral he hed his lawyer up in his library there , a lookin ' over all his papers and bonds and things , and a witnessing his will ; and Master Jeff was there , as lively as a cricket , a goin ' into all affairs , and offerin ' to take precious good care while he was gone ; and the Gineral he had his papers and letters out , a sortin ' on 'em over , which was to be took to the old country , and which was to be put in a trunk to go back to Lawyer Dennis 's office . `` Wal , Abner Ginger , Polly 's boy , he that was footman and waiter then at the Gineral 's , he told me , that , about eight o'clock that evening he went up with hot water and lemons and sperits and sich , and he see the gret green table in the library all strewed and covered with piles o ' papers ; and there was tin boxes a standin ' round ; and the Gineral a packin ' a trunk , and young Master Jeff , as lively and helpful as a rat that smells cheese . And then the Gineral he says , ` Abner , ' says he , ` can you write your name ? ' -- ` I should hope so , Gineral . ' says Abner .