Eight o'clock
`` Yes -- yes , sartin , of course ... Ruth , I mean . '' She left him standing by the writing table . After she had gone he sank slowly down into the chair again . Eight o'clock struck and he was still sitting there ... . And Fate chose that time to send Captain Sam Hunniwell striding up the walk and storming furiously at the back door . `` Jed ! '' roared the captain .