eight o'clock
before
`` Oh , very , '' replied Mrs. Bickford ; `` there was something about him that was very marked . Strangers would always ask who he was as he come into meetin ' . His words counted ; he never spoke except he had to . ' T was a relief at first after Mr. Wallis 's being so fluent ; but Mr. Wallis was splendid company for winter evenings , -- ' t would be eight o'clock before you knew it . I did n't use to listen to it all , but he had a great deal of information . Mr. Bickford was dreadful dignified ; I used to be sort of meechin ' with him along at the first , for fear he 'd disapprove of me ; but I found out ` twa 'n' t no need ; he was always just that way , an ' done everything by rule an ' measure . He had n't the mind of my other husbands , but he was a very dignified appearing man ; he used ` most always to sleep in the evenin 's , Mr. Bickford did . ''