About ten o'clock
`` I tried to ease his mind , but as I found his mind did n't need no easin ' , I minded my own business , just as he was mindin ' his . And now , sir , you 'll have to eat your supper alone this time . '' If Dick 's supper had consisted of nectar and the brains of nightingales he would not have noticed it ; and , until late in the evening , he sat in the arbor , anxiously waiting for the captain 's return . About ten o'clock old Jane , sleepy from having sat up so long , called to him from the door that he might as well come in and let her lock up the house . The captain was not coming home that night . He had stayed with the Ports once before , when the old man was sick . `` I guess he 's got a better reason for stayin ' tonight , '' she said .