seven o'clock
He made no remark at first , but looked at her more than once -- whether approvingly or not his stolid expression did not betray . When the girl did not sit down to the table and he observed she had set no place for herself , he suddenly said : `` Well ? '' `` I 'm goin ' to eat with the Hathaways to-night , '' she replied . `` Their dinner ai n't ready till seven o'clock , so if ye hurry a little I kin wash the dishes afore I go . '' He offered no objection . Indeed , he said nothing at all until he had finished his simple meal . Then , as she cleared the table , he said : `` It might be well , while you are in the society of Mary Louise and Colonel Hathaway , to notice their method of speech and try to imitate it . ''