half past seven
Nate and Methuselah were in bed . The baby was asleep . Moppet had thrown his shoes into the water-pitcher but twice , and run down stairs in his nightgown only four times that evening ; and Sharley felt encouraged . Perhaps , after all , he would be still by half past seven ; and by half past seven -- If Halcombe Dike did not come to-night , something was the matter . Sharley decided this with a sharp little nod . She had devoted herself to Moppet with politic punctiliousness . Would he lie at his lazy length , with his feet on her clean petticoat , while she bent and puzzled over his knotted shoestrings ?