eight o’clock
`` Why , easily , sir , if the patients will only let me alone . But with that bell going thirty times an hour , it 's hard to say what you are going to do . '' This with her funny manner set the ladies laughing , and the whole business seemed lighter and easier . I promised to have the room ready by eight o'clock . Mrs. La Force arranged to bring her son round at that hour , and both ladies thanked me a very great deal more than I deserved ; for after all it was a business matter , and a resident patient was the very thing that I needed . I was able to assure Mrs. La Force that I had had a similar case under my charge before -- meaning , of course , poor `` Jimmy , '' the son of Lord Saltire . Miss Williams escorted them to the door , and took occasion to whisper to them that it was wonderful how I got through with it , and that I was within sight of my carriage .