seven o'clock
From then on he would , he vowed , take especial pains to be nice to George Kent and to help or befriend him in every possible way . It was Kent himself who put this vow to the test . He called at the Minot place the very next evening . It was early , only seven o'clock ; Judah , having begged permission to serve an early supper because it was `` lodge night , '' had departed for Liberty Hall , where the local branch of the Odd Fellows met ; and Sears Kendrick was sitting on the settee in the back yard , beneath the locust tree , smoking . Kent came swinging in at the gate and again the captain felt that twinge of envy and rebellion against fate as he saw the active figure come striding toward him . But , and doubly so because of that very twinge , his welcome was brimming with cordiality . Kent explained that his call must be a brief one , as he must hurry back to his room at the Macombers ' to study .