seven o'clock
The thought of Bessie made me impatient , and following the example of the little deformed man , I also commenced pacing the room , but on the opposite side of the table , meeting and exchanging glances with him in the center . The maps upon the walls furnished me themes for contemplation in my sallies ; and I read and reread the exact latitude and longitude of the South Shoal , as it appeared on the charts . Then I paused at a front window , and peered out into the starlight night , and saw the tree tops in a little square opposite , move gently to the breeze , while my fancies recurred to the association of that home , at the fireside of which I pictured my father and mother , sitting thinking of me . At the opposite end of the room I read , for it was there printed upon the red colored poster , that the celebrated Giles Sheridan , -LRB- who was no less a person than the little deformed man who paced the room so briskly , -RRB- would lecture on Crabbe , in the basement of the `` Orthodox Meeting House , '' at seven o'clock , on the following evening . It perplexed me not a little to know why this Giles Sheridan , this queer little man , had selected for the subject of his lecture , a person so little known in the rural districts of Massachusetts . Had he consulted either the political or mechanical tastes of the people , instead of their literary , the cause would not have been involved in so deep a mystery ; but this will be explained hereafter . The clerical looking man had just kissed his young bride , and muttered something about the joys of paradise , as I , for the ninth time , paused to ponder over the curious announcement .