about ten o'clock
'T is a sin and a shame to ask ye to lave all this to go with a poor old -- '' `` Stop that ! '' she called , sharply . `` I wo n't listen to any such talk , '' and he said no more . They decided to go down about ten o'clock , when the daily tide of his life rode highest . This hour suited his own plan , for a train left for the mountains not long after , and he had resolved to make his escape while Bertha was with Ben in the office . `` There will be no need of any change in the house , '' he thought , `` but ` twill do no hurt for them to talk it all over . '' For an hour or two he hobbled about the yard and garden , taking a final look at the horses and dogs , and his face was very lax and gray and his voice broken as he talked with his men , who had learned of the doctor 's orders , and were awkwardly silent with sympathy .