nine o'clock
Mrs. Wayne was sternly trying to prosecute the inebriate ; Burke was determined to protect him , first , by smirching the girl 's name , and , next , by getting the girl 's family to consent to a marriage , a solution that Mrs. Wayne considered most undesirable in view of the character of the prospective husband . Pete felt her interest sweep away from his affairs , and it had not returned when the telephone rang . He came back from answering it to tell his mother that Mr. Lanley , the grandfather of his love , was asking if she would see him for a few minutes that afternoon or evening . A visit was arranged for nine o'clock . `` What 's he like ? '' asked Mrs. Wayne , wrinkling her nose and looking very impish . `` He seemed like a nice old boy ; has n't had a new idea , I should say , since 1880 .