nine o'clock
`` All right , '' and the woman turned to a customer . Theo was on hand promptly the next Saturday evening . He found that the flower woman wanted him to carry home pots of growing plants for lady purchasers . He was kept busy until nine o'clock , and received in payment a good-sized basket full of violets , roses , heliotrope and carnations . Some had short stems , and some were a little wilted , but the boy was well content with his pay . `` Most of them will freshen up and look bright as ever if you put them to-night in a pail of water where they 'll have plenty of room , '' the woman said ; `` and here -- this is for good luck , '' and she handed him a little pot of geranium with a cluster of pink blossoms . That brought a smile of genuine delight to the boy 's face .